A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
This is a canonical study of the New Testament (minus the gospels, which can be found as a chronological study here). The text is grouped into seven daily sections, making it useful for a week-long study beginning on Sunday and continuing through the week. Coupled with the gospels study this is a 52 week tour through the whole New Testament that may be completed in one year. A similar 52 week tour of the Old Testament (chronological) is also available.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
The author of the Book of Acts is generally considered to have been Luke. It is addressed to Theophilus, the same as the Book of Luke. “Theophilus” translates to “friend of God” and because of Luke’s manner of address “the most excellent” Theophilus is thought to have been a Roman of some stature, perhaps an military officer or a high official.
Jesus has been crucified and resurrected and at the end of the four Gospels has ascended back to His home in Heaven. The Apostles, disciples, believers, observers, and religious leaders are now left to sort out what has happened and what it means.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study — Section 1 (Chapters 1-5) of the series, “Acts” — prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in October of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Jesus Ascends to Heaven
1:1 I wrote the former account, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach 1:2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after he had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
1:3 To the same apostles also, after his suffering, he presented himself alive with many convincing proofs. He was seen by them over a forty-day period and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God.
1:4 While he was with them, he declared, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about from me. 1:5 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
1:6 So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, “Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 1:7 He told them, “You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.”
1:9 After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. 1:10 As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them 1:11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.”
A Replacement for Judas is Chosen
1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Mount of Olives (which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away). 1:13 When they had entered Jerusalem, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James were there.
1:14 All these continued together in prayer with one mind, together with the women, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
1:15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty people) and said, 1:16 “Brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through David concerning Judas — who became the guide for those who arrested Jesus — 1:17 for he was counted as one of us and received a share in this ministry.” 1:18 (Now this man Judas acquired a field with the reward of his unjust deed, and falling headfirst he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. 1:19 This became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so that in their own language they called that field Hakeldama, that is, “Field of Blood.”) 1:20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his house become deserted, and let there be no one to live in it,’ and ‘Let another take his position of responsibility.’
1:21 Thus one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time the Lord Jesus associated with us, 1:22 beginning from his baptism by John until the day he was taken up from us — one of these must become a witness of his resurrection together with us.”
1:23 So they proposed two candidates: Joseph called Barsabbas (also called Justus) and Matthias. 1:24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know the hearts of all. Show us which one of these two you have chosen 1:25 to assume the task of this service and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 1:26 Then they cast lots for them, and the one chosen was Matthias; so he was counted with the eleven apostles.
Lord, I will pray that every Christian will come to know the truth of the Bible about the return of Jesus so that they will never be deceived by false Christs. I also pray that all believers be they male or female, old or young, rich or poor, across nationality and race will find fellowships where they may pray and study and worship as peers.
Luke briefly reviewed the final days of Jesus’ post-resurrection ministry “... all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day He was taken up to heaven … He presented himself alive with many convincing proofs ... spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God.”
Luke noted the instructions of Jesus as to the coming of the Holy Spirit and the responsibility of His Apostles to “... be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” As they watched His ascent home to Heaven angels appeared next to them to remind them that He would return in the same way.
They traveled the half of a mile back to Jerusalem and gathered in the upstairs room that had become their most recent temporary place for fellowship; the gathered included the eleven living apostles, many believing men and women, Mary the mother of Jesus and His brothers, and together the gathering of about one hundred and twenty prayed.
Peter addressed the group, reminding them of the prophesy that Jesus would be betrayed by someone close to Him, and then that they were [according to Psalms 109:8) fill Judas’ now-vacant place of responsibility. They prayed and the Holy Spirit led them to choose Matthias.
Jesus instructed the apostles, to pass this on to all believers, that we are to “... be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.”
How could anyone believe a false claim to the Messiah-returned for the One True Jesus?
Note: There are many speculations from people as to the return of Christ. Observe again the clear message of the Gospels, repeated here in Acts, that Jesus will return as He departed - down from the clouds in plain view. (Elsewhere we read that everyone will see His return all at once, accompanied by the blowing of horns.)
There was, and is, an intimate and peer-like relationship between men and women of true Biblical-Christian faith. Many of the institutional religious hierarchies, and the separation of the genders, are not seen in this part of the Word of God.
When have you experienced or observed the powerful and unique sense of family in a gathering of Christian believers?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you how He would have you “... be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.”
Today I will humbly receive Your mission and I will prayerfully, in consultation with mature fellow believers, make plans to fulfill Your calling. It may be to share Your story with a fellow student or co-worker, a friend or family member, or the leader of a community in a far away land. It may be, rather, to assist a person or group in their efforts to reach a person or persons with the message of salvation.
The Holy Spirit and the Day of Pentecost
2:1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2:2 Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. 2:3 And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.
2:5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven residing in Jerusalem. 2:6 When this sound occurred, a crowd gathered and was in confusion, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 2:7 Completely baffled, they said, “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 2:8 And how is it that each one of us hears them in our own native language? 2:9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and the province of Asia, 2:10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 2:11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs — we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great deeds God has done!” 2:12 All were astounded and greatly confused, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 2:13 But others jeered at the speakers, saying, “They are drunk on new wine!”
Peter’s Address on the Day of Pentecost
2:14 But Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: “You men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this and listen carefully to what I say. 2:15 In spite of what you think, these men are not drunk, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 2:16 But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel:
2:17 ‘And in the last days it will be,’ God says,
‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people,
and your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
and your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
2:18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
2:19 And I will perform wonders in the sky above
and miraculous signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
2:20 The sun will be changed to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
2:21 And then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
2:22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, wonders, and miraculous signs that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know — 2:23 this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles. 2:24 But God raised him up, having released him from the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power. 2:25 For David says about him,
‘I saw the Lord always in front of me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.
2:26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced;
my body also will live in hope,
2:27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades,
nor permit your Holy One to experience decay.
2:28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of joy with your presence.’
2:29 “Brothers, I can speak confidently to you about our forefather David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 2:30 So then, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, 2:31 David by foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his body experience decay. 2:32 This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it. 2:33 So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear. 2:34 For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says,
‘The Lord said to my lord,
“Sit at my right hand
2:35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.”
The Response to Peter’s Address
2:37 Now when they heard this, they were acutely distressed and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “What should we do, brothers?” 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 2:39 For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” 2:40 With many other words he testified and exhorted them saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!” 2:41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added.
Lord, You offer blessings and gifts, sometimes people accept them — often many do not. May I accept the wisdom of your indwelling Holy Spirit and receive what You offer as an equipping for service to You.
The Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles, and perhaps many or all of the other 120 members of the close-knit group of believers who had been gathering at the upstairs room. They were in a public area surrounded by “Jews from every nation under Heaven” as well as non-Jewish converts to Judaism, Cretans, and Arabs who had gathered for the celebration of Pentecost.
Verse 2:4 is very clear that when the Holy Spirit came upon them they spoke in “other languages” and 2:8 that those languages represented the native tongues of people in the crowd.
The curious among them wondered what it could mean, the unteachable among them jeered and accused them of being drunk - though such a claim had no relevance to the evidence at all.
Peter declared to those gathered for Pentecost that not only were they not drunk that they were fulfilling prophesy from Joel and Jesus.
Many people responded repentantly to Peter’s message and about three thousand were baptized. [It is worthy of note that vss 2:40-41 include the text ““Save yourselves from this perverse generation!” So those who accepted his message were baptized,” another clear statement of the large invitation and the voluntary choice of individuals.]
God chose to bring the Holy Spirit upon the believers in the presence of non-believers across many ethnicities, nationalities, races, and religious traditions.
There was a fundamental difference between the scoffers and those who sought truth, and the resultant understanding of those seeking truth vs the blindness of the others. Have you observed the same divergent response among modern listeners?
Reflect upon the various teachings about “speaking in tongues” and how this text only addresses the miracle of a capacity to share the truth of God in a foreign language previously unknown to the speaker - but native to his or her listener. It does not say here that a “heavenly language” does not exist, it merely excludes this specific text from support of such a “gift”.
Reflect upon the various teachings as to how one comes to the final moment of saving faith, some which claim all will be saved, others which claim only those predestined will be saved, and yet another claim that only those who persist in “good works” will be saved -- this text says otherwise -- that those who heard God’s truth and believed came forward to be affirmed and baptized. [Note: It is not the baptism that saved them but their acknowledgement of God’s truth and their willing submission to it.]
When have you been among a group of people who experienced the same event yet interpreted the meaning of the differently?
Today I will ask the Lord for the boldness to share His story with someone who is teachable but unfamiliar with the language and message of the Bible - perhaps they have never heard or have only heard man-made religious distortions or the lies of the Enemy. I will also prayerfully seek an opportunity to share with a fellow believer something new that God has revealed to me that previously seemed like a foreign language but now is clear.
Today I will step-put in faith and with the boldness and clarity of the Holy Spirit to be His instrument of hope and of truth.
The Fellowship of the Early Believers
2:42 They were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
2:43 Reverential awe came over everyone, and many wonders and miraculous signs came about by the apostles.
2:44 All who believed were together and held everything in common, 2:45 and they began selling their property and possessions and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need.
2:46 Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts, 2:47 praising God and having the good will of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved.
Lord, You call the members of Your family into an intimate relationship with you and one-another, and interdependent relationship with one-another. May I invest in fellow believers so that we may be come more-faithful in caring for each other and growing together in You.
The fellowship among the early believers consisted of a pattern of disciplines; “... devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching”, “...and to fellowship”, “... to the breaking or bread”, “and to prayer.”
The apostles taught the message of Jesus as the fulfillment of prophesy in the context of the narratives of the Creation, Fall, and the history that followed.
[Note: Study of the Word of God, facilitated by those who have demonstrated Biblical knowledge and spiritual maturity is an important model for Christians.]
The fellowship of the believers is shown here as a continuous and intentional investment of energy and time.
[Note: Fellowship among believers built community, intimacy, and a sense of ‘family’ that went beyond the mere genetic or legal traditional family.]
For the early believers breaking bread together served both social and symbolic purposes.
[Note: Breaking bread has two possible meanings, one is the “Lord’s Supper”, also known as communion, as it is part of a special time of structured worship, and the other refers to a meal shared with others, not necessarily believers, especially in the common use of the term. In verse 2:42 it likely refers to a casual reenactment of the Lord’s Supper whereas in 2:46 it likely refers to sharing a meal with others.]
Their investment of time and attention in prayer is an explanation of their intimacy with God and their power to endure suffering and experience the power of God’s presence.
[Note: The pattern of prayer modeled by Jesus found early and important emphasis throughout the text of the New Testament texts. As the early believers studied under the apostles they learned about prayer throughout the history of prophets and other faithful servants of God and were reminded of prayer in the life of Jesus and His closest followers.]
“Reverential awe” for the power of God came upon them all as a result of these disciplines which was enhanced by “... many wonders and miraculous signs ... by the apostles.”
[Note: Their faithfulness to the “Greatest Commandment” of Jesus created a spiritual environment where God’s power flowed freely.]
“All who believed were together and held everything in common ...” so that resources were fully shared within the family of Christ.
[Note: This was at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, not a mandate of the secular State, nor by the manipulative guilt-motivation of a charismatic human.]
“And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved.”
[Note: Because of their faithfulness God was able to use them powerfully and trust them to disciple those whom He sent.]
Consider your spiritual disciplines, do they include study, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer?
Do you take those disciplines “to the streets” among fellow believers, sharing resources, sharing meals, enjoying fellowship, praising God, and building good will?
As your fellowship matures is God sending more?
When have you experienced or observed an truely-intimate Christian fellowship?
Ask the Holy Spirit to motivate you to be faithful to mature quickly through intentional discipline, dedicated fellowship, and service in His name so that He may bless your fellowship with others who may also share in His blessings and then go forth to multiply the model into similar fellowships.
Today I will prayerfully review my daily and weekly disciplines in order to make study, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer represent a non-negotiable core. I will also look at my calendar to assure that sharing resources, sharing meals, enjoying fellowship, praising God, and building good will are integral to it.
Peter and John Heal a Lame Man at the Temple
3:1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time for prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. 3:2 And a man lame from birth was being carried up, who was placed at the temple gate called “the Beautiful Gate” every day so he could beg for money from those going into the temple courts. 3:3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple courts, he asked them for money. 3:4 Peter looked directly at him (as did John) and said, “Look at us!” 3:5 So the lame man paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. 3:6 But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, stand up and walk!” 3:7 Then Peter took hold of him by the right hand and raised him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. 3:8 He jumped up, stood and began walking around, and he entered the temple courts with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 3:9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 3:10 and they recognized him as the man who used to sit and ask for donations at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with astonishment and amazement at what had happened to him.
Peter Addresses the Crowd
3:11 While the man was hanging on to Peter and John, all the people, completely astounded, ran together to them in the covered walkway called Solomon’s Portico. 3:12 When Peter saw this, he declared to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us as if we had made this man walk by our own power or piety? 3:13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate after he had decided to release him. 3:14 But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a man who was a murderer be released to you. 3:15 You killed the Originator of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this fact we are witnesses! 3:16 And on the basis of faith in Jesus’ name, his very name has made this man — whom you see and know — strong. The faith that is through Jesus has given him this complete health in the presence of you all. 3:17 And now, brothers, I know you acted in ignorance, as your rulers did too. 3:18 But the things God foretold long ago through all the prophets — that his Christ would suffer — he has fulfilled in this way. 3:19 Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out, 3:20 so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and so that he may send the Messiah appointed for you — that is, Jesus. 3:21 This one heaven must receive until the time all things are restored, which God declared from times long ago through his holy prophets. 3:22 Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must obey him in everything he tells you. 3:23 Every person who does not obey that prophet will be destroyed and thus removed from the people.’ 3:24 And all the prophets, from Samuel and those who followed him, have spoken about and announced these days. 3:25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.’ 3:26 God raised up his servant and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your iniquities.”
Lord, You proclaimed the coming of the Messiah from the moment You declared the consequences of Adam and Eve’s rebellion in the Garden, then over and over throughout history, because only a perfect One of Heaven could redeem us. May I never forget that all hope and all power for good comes from You.
Peter and John heal a lame man at the Temple, he wanted money, they gave him the miracle gift of healing “... on the basis of faith in Jesus’ name”. Once healed he responded with uninhibited praise for God.
Peter used the wonder of those observing this miracle as an occasion to chastise them to repentance. He noted that it was the power of God and not their “power or piety” which caused the healing.
He reminds them that they killed the “Originator of Life” and that their only hope for redemption was found in Him. In 3:26 Peter also reminds them that their “iniquities” are not singular but multiple; that they are guilty of rejecting and murdering Jesus but are also guilty of other sins.
The people knew enough from the Old Testament prophets to have recognized the Messiah, yet they were blinded by bad teaching and sick hearts, and so they not only killed Him — they continued to resist His offer of redemption.
Why was it so important that Peter make clear that the healing was totally a work of Christ and that he was merely His instrument?
There were many things for which the death and resurrection of Christ provided forgiveness, the obvious one is our prior rejection of Him, but what of the many ways that our rebellion against God has showed itself in a variety of sins?
When have you, or someone you know, been healed. Did you, or they, respond with uninhibited praise for God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind me of a healing work He has done in you. It may be emotional, intellectual, physical, or spiritual. In each case it would have been something that you could not done of your own strengths or talents.
Today I will share with another believer my uninhibited praise for God Who has forgiven me and I will praise Him specifically for at least one healing He has done and/or one sin from which He has set me free.
The Arrest and Trial of Peter and John
4:1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the commander of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 4:2 angry because they were teaching the people and announcing in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 4:3 So they seized them and put them in jail until the next day (for it was already evening). 4:4 But many of those who had listened to the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
4:5 On the next day, their rulers, elders, and experts in the law came together in Jerusalem. 4:6 Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others who were members of the high priest’s family. 4:7 After making Peter and John stand in their midst, they began to inquire, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, replied, “Rulers of the people and elders, 4:9 if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick man — by what means this man was healed — 4:10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy. 4:11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone. 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”
4:13 When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus. 4:14 And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this. 4:15 But when they had ordered them to go outside the council, they began to confer with one another, 4:16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is plain to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign has come about through them, and we cannot deny it. 4:17 But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 4:18 And they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 4:19 But Peter and John replied, “Whether it is right before God to obey you rather than God, you decide, 4:20 for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” 4:21 After threatening them further, they released them, for they could not find how to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising God for what had happened. 4:22 For the man, on whom this miraculous sign of healing had been performed, was over forty years old.
The Followers of Jesus Pray for Boldness
4:23 When they were released, Peter and John went to their fellow believers and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said to them. 4:24 When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “Master of all, you who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them, 4:25 who said by the Holy Spirit through your servant David our forefather, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot foolish things?
4:26 The kings of the earth stood together, and the rulers assembled together, against the Lord and against his Christ.’
4:27 “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 4:28 to do as much as your power and your plan had decided beforehand would happen. 4:29 And now, Lord, pay attention to their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your message with great courage, 4:30 while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 4:31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God courageously.
Lord, Your truth is undeniable, You make certain that none who seek truth will fail to find it in You. May I intentionally and prayerfully seek truth so that I am always seeking You.
The religious leaders arrested Peter and John for preaching and teaching Christ - five thousand “men” reportedly believed.
[Note: The reference to only to the males (or husbands) in the count was traditional, as it was when the Gospel texts described Jesus feeding the two large gatherings of people. It is difficult to accurately extrapolate to the true numbers, to include all of the women, and the children who had reached the age of accountability.]
On the next morning the religious leaders brought Peter and John to trial - Peter instead challenged them with the declaration that Jesus was the power that healed the lame man and was the only One “... by which we must be saved. The religious leaders were unable to deny the truth of the healing so they sent the men out and conferred as to how to silence them - they dared not punish them for fear of the people - so they warned them to be silent. Peter and John explained that silence was not possible, so they were warned again and then set free.”
Peter and John shared what had happened and the followers of Jesus prayed for boldness, their confidence was strengthened by the Holy Spirit, and they “... began to speak the word of God courageously.”
All of those with worldly power at that time were aligned against Christ-followers.
When challenged by the a resistant seeker or a rebellious enemy of truth which is your most common reaction; flee, apologize and be quiet, angrily confront with your human arguments, or a prayer for peace and wisdom from the Holy Spirit followed by a simple recitation of His-story of our needs met with His sacrificial provision and His blessings for our obedience?
Recalling the boldness of Peter and John - reflect upon your own boldness in the proclamation and teaching of the Word of God.
When have you experienced or observed false charges being brought against someone and their boldness in the truth caused them to be set free?
Ask the Holy Spirit to give me the courage to be a good witness for Christ in my life, second to quietly and respectfully tell His-story when challenged for my faith, and third to resist being drawn into debates or discussions with an unteachable unsaved person that can only happen on a walled-off emotional and intellectual level, closed-off to spiritual change.
Today I will, as the Lord trusts and uses me, reach out to a teachable person who is considering-Christ and I will share His-Story.
Conditions Among the Early Believers
4:32 The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common. 4:33 With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. 4:34 For there was no one needy among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds from the sales 4:35 and placing them at the apostles’ feet. The proceeds were distributed to each, as anyone had need. 4:36 So Joseph, a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”), 4:37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and placed it at the apostles’ feet.
The Judgment on Ananias and Sapphira
5:1 Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property. 5:2 He kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge; he brought only part of it and placed it at the apostles’ feet. 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land? 5:4 Before it was sold, did it not belong to you? And when it was sold, was the money not at your disposal? How have you thought up this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God!”
5:5 When Ananias heard these words he collapsed and died, and great fear gripped all who heard about it. 5:6 So the young men came, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. 5:7 After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, but she did not know what had happened. 5:8 Peter said to her, “Tell me, were the two of you paid this amount for the land?” Sapphira said, “Yes, that much.” 5:9 Peter then told her, “Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!” 5:10 At once she collapsed at his feet and died. So when the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 5:11 Great fear gripped the whole church and all who heard about these things.
Lord, You have invited humankind to learn and to share in Your love. May I seek You in all things, especially in my relationships with fellow Christians.
Conditions among early believers were like the most healthy and loving family, sharing every resource necessary to assure that no member of the family was in need. [Note: This was not forced, as in a political statement from the community leaders (the Apostles), but was a voluntary response to the blessings and power of God through the Apostles and being poured out among the believers.]
Barnabas was one member who sold a field and brought the proceeds to the Apostles for distribution to needy believers. Ananias and Sapphira, seeking the praise of man without true sacrifice, sold property and lied to Peter and the Church claiming to have done as Barnabas in giving the entire proceeds. The discernment of the Holy Spirit in Peter revealed their deception and God took their lives. [Note: It was not necessary for them to give all of the proceeds, it was merely expected that they be honest as to what they were sharing.]
Verse 5:11 is the first place in ACTS where the text refers to the believing Christian community as “the church”. Reflect a moment on the confusion when people began to refer to buildings and man-made organizations as “the church” in contradiction to God’s purpose for that term.
Have you ever observed Christians who make a big show of doing or giving, overstating what they were doing or giving so as to garner praise? Were the leaders aware of the deception and did they correct or ignore it? What was the result?
Reflect upon a time, if you have experienced this, when you were among truly unselfish people who shared a common value system and who shared everything so that none in the group had a need. Perhaps it was on a retreat or a missions trip or as part of a sports-related activity or some other small group. Try to imagine that as a whole-life 24/7 philosophy of life.
When have you observed confusion between manmade institutions and organizations and the true Biblical definition of the people and purpose of “The Church?”
Ask the Holy Spirit reveal to you someone whom He wants you to encourage and pray who is generous toward fellow believers
Today I will encourage and pray for someone who is generous toward fellow believers in loving response to them as “eternal family in Christ”. I will pray for small communities of believers to become more intentional in serving one from the bounty and gifts and talents God has given.
I will also pray for the gift of discernment for leaders to recognize and challenge deception and selfish self-promotion among the Christian family.
The Apostles Perform Miraculous Signs and Wonders
5:12 Now many miraculous signs and wonders came about among the people through the hands of the apostles. By common consent they were all meeting together in Solomon’s Portico. 5:13 None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high honor. 5:14 More and more believers in the Lord were added to their number, crowds of both men and women. 5:15 Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets, and put them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow would fall on some of them. 5:16 A crowd of people from the towns around Jerusalem also came together, bringing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits. They were all being healed.
Further Trouble for the Apostles
5:17 Now the high priest rose up, and all those with him (that is, the religious party of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 5:18 They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail. 5:19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, 5:20 “Go and stand in the temple courts and proclaim to the people all the words of this life.” 5:21 When they heard this, they entered the temple courts at daybreak and began teaching.
Now when the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin — that is, the whole high council of the Israelites — and sent to the jail to have the apostles brought before them. 5:22 But the officers who came for them did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 5:23 “We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 5:24 Now when the commander of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were greatly puzzled concerning it, wondering what this could be. 5:25 But someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts and teaching the people!” 5:26 Then the commander of the temple guard went with the officers and brought the apostles without the use of force (for they were afraid of being stoned by the people).
5:27 When they had brought them, they stood them before the council, and the high priest questioned them, 5:28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name. Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood on us!” 5:29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people. 5:30 The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, whom you seized and killed by hanging him on a tree. 5:31 God exalted him to his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 5:32 And we are witnesses of these events, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
5:33 Now when they heard this, they became furious and wanted to execute them. 5:34 But a Pharisee whose name was Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the council and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. 5:35 Then he said to the council, “Men of Israel, pay close attention to what you are about to do to these men. 5:36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and nothing came of it. 5:37 After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census, and incited people to follow him in revolt. He too was killed, and all who followed him were scattered. 5:38 So in this case I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking originates with people, it will come to nothing, 5:39 but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them, or you may even be found fighting against God.” He convinced them, 5:40 and they summoned the apostles and had them beaten. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. 5:41 So they left the council rejoicing because they had been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. 5:42 And every day both in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus was the Christ.
Lord, You heal through Your willing instruments as You deem best, and You allow the troubles of the world to afflict those same servants as a witness to Your power to carry them through and to illustrate the wickedness of the world. May I trust You to use me perfectly, no matter what.
The believers continued to gather in “Solomon’s Portico” which was an open area and part of the larger Temple complex. While the population of the believers continued to grow many others avoided them for fear of the religious authorities.
People brought the physically and spiritually ill for the Apostles to heal. The Apostles were used of God to perform other miraculous signs and wonders as evidence of God’s anointing.
The religious authorities were jealous, a mixture of their desire to preserve the purity of their religious traditions and their more personal selfish desire to retain the devotion of the people for themselves. They had the Apostles arrested and jailed but early in the morning an Angel released them from the jail, without disturbing the locked doors or alerting the guards, and sent them to preach and teach again.
The religious authorities sent for them, requesting that they come peaceably as the crowds favored the Apostles, and the Apostles came. The religious leaders chastised them for preaching and teaching when they had told them to not do so - to which they replied that they must obey God and not man. The religious authorities were furious and wanted to execute them but Gamaliel reminded them that men with small followings before had been killed and their followings dispersed, this was different and they did not want to risk a fight with God, so let them go and let God sort out what would happen.
The religious authorities had them lashed “forty times minus one” for disobedience to them then released them with a warning to not preach and teach. They left celebrating that their faithfulness to God had resulted in worthiness to be punished by His enemies then resumed their preaching and teaching in the Temple court and house to house.
Do you know of people in your neighborhood, school, workplace, or other network of associates who avoid Christian gatherings and/or discussions for fear of the opinions of others? Or are you struggling with that yourself?
Have you experienced, or observed, punishment for faithfulness to God?
Was the response a celebration that the faithfulness so challenged others that they punished them? Did you, or they, persevere in preaching and teaching His-story despite the risks?
When have you observed people in religious or secular authority persecuting those whom they believe have violated some custom or tradition that they hold valuable, even though it is either non-Biblical or simply silly even in a secular world? Have you done that in the past?
Ask the Holy Spirit to grant freedom from fear, for myself or others, so that God’s truth will be more important than the opinions of mere humans. Also, that people in authority will allow their eyes to be opened by the Holy Spirit to the difference between their petty human customs and traditions and the truth of God.
Today I will identify someone in local, national, or international ministry, perhaps missions or public service or a religious role who has been or is being persecuted for their Christian faith and pray in agreement for perseverance, protection, and power. I will also attempt to respectfully communicate a word of encouragement via E-mail or letter.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Acts” — prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in December of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The Appointment of the First Seven Deacons
6:1 Now in those days, when the disciples were growing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Hebraic Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
6:2 So the twelve called the whole group of the disciples together and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables.
6:3 But carefully select from among you, brothers, seven men who are well-attested, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this necessary task.
6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
6:5 The proposal pleased the entire group, so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a Gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch.
6:6 They stood these men before the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on them.
6:7 The word of God continued to spread, the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.
Lord, Your desire was for the early Church members to be a true family, to care for one-another without regard for those worldly things which You specifically excluded “Neither male nor female, old nor young, Greek nor Hebrew”. May I love my fellow believer and treat no one differently because of a worldly-priority that is not a Godly-priority.
The early Biblical Christian community was in agreement with the Lord God that the care of all of their members was a high priority. Because of Biblical history, and the current socio-economic challenges of believers in an unfriendly society, widows were of special concern.
Within the population of Jewish converts to Christianity were two large sub-groups, the more traditional Hebrew-speaking (and overwhelmingly Jewish descended), and the newer Greek-speaking and culturally less-traditional (generally non-Jewish) group.
The Greek-speaking group complained that their widows were being unfairly under-served by the majority Hebrew-speaking leaders. This represented a significant challenge to trust within the early believing community.
The twelve Apostles called together all of the disciples. [Note: This would have been a large number of people as all believers are disciples and the Church had been growing rapidly. It may have referred to a leadership group of some sort rather than every believer.] They declared that their first obligation to Jesus was to preach and to teach; therefore, there was a need for some others to be recruited. These were to be prayerfully and reflectively identified ed as called by the Lord God to manage food and other physical care-giving resources.
The first seven "deacons" were to be "... men who are well-attested [respected by their peer-believers], full of the Spirit [saved], and (full of) of wisdom. [There was no stated Biblical reason to select only men but to have selected women at this time may have created an avoidable cultural rift in the early Biblical Christian community. There are no grounds in this immediate text to extrapolate a male-only mandate for a deacon, nor does this preclude such a male-only mandate elsewhere in the Biblical text, this text is neutral on the matter of Deacon-gender.]
Could your worship and study and prayer and fellowship group identify seven who would meet the qualification for a "deacon" who are "... well-attested [respected by their peer-believers], full of the Spirit [saved], and (full of) of wisdom?
Have you observed cultural sub-groups, cliques, within groups identified as "Christian"?
Have you observed favoritism, intentional or unintentional, among the sub-groups?
Reflecting on the dedication of the early Church to the care of the needs of their "members" then contemplate how our modern building-centric, program-centric churches prioritize the same level of commitment to care. When so many resources and so much time are diverted to buildings and to programs is it reasonable to expect awareness of true needs among all of the "members", not to mention actually meeting those needs?
When have you observed an effort to use ACTS 6:3-8 as justification to exclude women from a deacon-like role? [Note: There may be other NT texts that restrain a woman from serving in a deacon-like role, the point here is that this is not intended to do so and should not be misused as proof-text or otherwise misrepresented.]
Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to pray that the gathering of believers with which you are associated (be it a traditional organization, a "house church", or some other format), will emulate the early Church in their Biblical priorities.
Today I will pray in agreement with an individual or organization standing for Christ (based on a Biblical principle, not misusing the name Christ to justify a personal crusade) despite attacks from individuals and/or organizations (perhaps even the government).
Stephen is Arrested
6:8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. 6:9 But some men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as some from Cilicia and the province of Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. 6:10 Yet they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. 6:11 Then they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard this man speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 6:12 They incited the people, the elders, and the experts in the law; then they approached Stephen, seized him, and brought him before the council. 6:13 They brought forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop saying things against this holy place and the law. 6:14 For we have heard him saying that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” 6:15 All who were sitting in the council looked intently at Stephen and saw his face was like the face of an angel.
Stephen’s Defense Before the Council
7:1 Then the high priest said, “Are these things true?” 7:2 So he replied, “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran, 7:3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your country and from your relatives, and come to the land I will show you.’ 7:4 Then he went out from the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God made him move to this country where you now live. 7:5 He did not give any of it to him for an inheritance, not even a foot of ground, yet God promised to give it to him as his possession, and to his descendants after him, even though Abraham as yet had no child. 7:6 But God spoke as follows: ‘Your descendants will be foreigners in a foreign country, whose citizens will enslave them and mistreat them for four hundred years. 7:7 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ said God, ‘and after these things they will come out of there and worship me in this place.’ 7:8 Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and so he became the father of Isaac and circumcised him when he was eight days old, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. 7:9 The patriarchs, because they were jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt. But God was with him, 7:10 and rescued him from all his troubles, and granted him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 7:11 Then a famine occurred throughout Egypt and Canaan, causing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. 7:12 So when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there the first time. 7:13 On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers again, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. 7:14 So Joseph sent a message and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come, seventy-five people in all. 7:15 So Jacob went down to Egypt and died there, along with our ancestors, 7:16 and their bones were later moved to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a certain sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
Lord, You called Stephen to Your service and You guided him as he reminded them of Your story. May I be more concerned about telling Your story than trying to defend or to promote my own.
Stephen, one of the first seven Deacons, is performing “... great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.” [From the NET Translator’s Notes: Although during the ministry of Jesus there were some who mimicked the casting-out of demons and other acts of power, about whom Jesus said if they did so in His name they’d be unable to criticize Him for a while, Stephen is the first non-Apostle described in the same terms “great wonders and miraculous signs” as the Apostles.]
Members (and perhaps descendants of) former slaves who had formed a religious organization known as the ““Freedmen” disliked Stephen’s Christian ministry work. As other religious leaders had done before them with Jesus they had Stephen arrested on deliberately falsified charges.
Stephen begins his defense before the Council - as did Jesus and Peter and John before him - with a review of history.
God appeared to Abraham, our ancestor, and instructed him to leave Mesopotamia - trusting God to show the way to an unknown new homeland.
God led Abraham to Haran then after his father died moved him again to “the Promised Land”, but at this time did not give it to him as an “inheritance” but only as a “possession”. This “possession” was for Abraham and “his descendants”, though he had no children yet. [The language here is awkward in English but vss 7:4-5 appears to recognize a right for Abraham and his people to live there but to not treat it as their permanent and exclusive property, at least not yet based on this text.]
Abraham’s descendant’s were to become slaves in a foreign land [Egypt] but God would punish Egypt and bring them back to the Promised Land. [Note: This is a prophesy re. Egypt - observe that this text is out of chronological order since Stephen then describes the events leading up to the Egyptian captivity.]
God gave Abraham the “covenant of circumcision” then a son, Isaac, who had Jacob, who then had ten of the twelve “Patriarchs” from whom came the twelve tribes of Israel. [Ten of the Patriarchs of Israel were from the twelve sons of Jacob, excluding Levi and Joseph. Levi’s descendants were cut-off and it was Joseph’s two sons who occupied the other two of the Twelve Patriarchical positions. Asher, Benjamin, Dan, Ephraim, Gad, Issachar, Judah, Manasseh, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, Zebulun.]
Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers then rescued by God Whose plan it was to bring him into the favor of Pharaoh so as to provide food for Egypt and for Jacob’s family who would come to buy grain and discover Joseph alive.
Jacob and the extended family of seventy-five moved to Egypt and multiplied rapidly there.
The Lord God God entrusted Stephen with power because his character and faithfulness to God made him trustworthy.
The evidence of Abraham's trust in God may be seen in his attitude and his actions, what that might look like in your life?
The text says some important things about Stephen which gives us guidance as to the qualifications for a Deacon and for the expectations of a maturing-believer.
When have you contemplated the faithfulness of God in converting Joseph's predicament into provision?
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to compare the character of Stephen to your own character, on a regular basis, as a Biblical source of accountability and a Biblical source of reference for your growing maturity.
Today I will celebrate a time in my life when the world set me up for failure and God intervened and transformed it to good.
7:17 “But as the time drew near for God to fulfill the promise he had declared to Abraham, the people increased greatly in number in Egypt, 7:18 until another king who did not know about Joseph ruled over Egypt. 7:19 This was the one who exploited our people and was cruel to our ancestors, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die. 7:20 At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful to God. For three months he was brought up in his father’s house, 7:21 and when he had been abandoned, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. 7:22 So Moses was trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his words and deeds. 7:23 But when he was about forty years old, it entered his mind to visit his fellow countrymen the Israelites. 7:24 When he saw one of them being hurt unfairly, Moses came to his defense and avenged the person who was mistreated by striking down the Egyptian. 7:25 He thought his own people would understand that God was delivering them through him, but they did not understand. 7:26 The next day Moses saw two men fighting, and tried to make peace between them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why are you hurting one another?’ 7:27 But the man who was unfairly hurting his neighbor pushed Moses aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us? 7:28 You don’t want to kill me the way you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?’ 7:29 When the man said this, Moses fled and became a foreigner in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.
7:30 “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. 7:31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and when he approached to investigate, there came the voice of the Lord, 7:32 ‘I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look more closely. 7:33 But the Lord said to him, ‘Take the sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 7:34 I have certainly seen the suffering of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Now come, I will send you to Egypt.’ 7:35 This same Moses they had rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge?’ God sent as both ruler and deliverer through the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 7:36 This man led them out, performing wonders and miraculous signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. 7:37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers.’ 7:38 This is the man who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors, and he received living oracles to give to you. 7:39 Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him, but pushed him aside and turned back to Egypt in their hearts, 7:40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go in front of us, for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt — we do not know what has happened to him!’ 7:41 At that time they made an idol in the form of a calf, brought a sacrifice to the idol, and began rejoicing in the works of their hands. 7:42 But God turned away from them and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘It was not to me that you offered slain animals and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, was it, house of Israel? 7:43 But you took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the god Rephan, the images you made to worship, but I will deport you beyond Babylon.’ 7:44 Our ancestors had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as God who spoke to Moses ordered him to make it according to the design he had seen. 7:45 Our ancestors received possession of it and brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors, until the time of David. 7:46 He found favor with God and asked that he could find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob. 7:47 But Solomon built a house for him. 7:48 Yet the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands, as the prophet says,
7:49 ‘Heaven is my throne,
and earth is the footstool for my feet.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
or what is my resting place?
7:50 Did my hand not make all these things?’
Lord, You worked around the choices of humankind but were never surprised, and when You dwelt among them You were never controlled or “contained” by them. May I be constantly aware of Your presence in me through Your Holy Spirit and that You do not indwell to serve my desires but to equip me to serve You.
Stephen continued his review of the Lord God’s working in the history of Israel.
Over time a new Pharaoh had assumed power and he had no knowledge of the honor due Joseph and his descendants but rather viewed them as free slave labor.
Moses was born just as the new Pharaoh, fearful of the size of the Jewish population, initiated a population control protocol. God arranged for the infant Moses to be set adrift and adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. He was raised an Egyptian, but was aware of his heritage. As an adult he visited the work site of the Jews, where he was confronted with an abusive situation, he killed the slave-supervisor. When he later confronted two Jews fighting they asked if he intended to kill them as he had the slave-supervisor, so fearing retribution from the Egyptians, he fled Egypt.
After forty years God called Moses to lead His people out of bondage. [Note: This is a “type” or symbolic representation of Jesus.] The people resisted the leadership of Moses and even longed to return to slavery in Egypt rather than deal with the challenging unknown of the wilderness.
God gave them the “tabernacle of testimony”, a traveling altar containing His presence, which was central to the leadership of Joshua and later David.
Stephen was careful to note that God does not dwell in [is not contained by] “houses made by human hands”.
The Pharaoh forgot the history of Joseph’s value to Egypt.
What has been the consequence in modern civilizations or nations that forget the value of God’s centrality when they were created, in bring them prosperity, and in their protection?
Some people who refuse to follow healthy leadership and instead return to old things they rightly discarded of fads of the moment.
When have you observed believers following a leader or participating in a ministry because he or it was popular rather than because it honored the Lord God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place of bondage from which your He rescued you.
Today I will celebrate my freedom from bondage with another believer. I also commit to prayerfully consider under whose authority I voluntarily submit myself and ask if they are God-honoring according to the Biblical qualifications for a “Shepherd” or “Deacon” or if I tend to drift back into religious and social practices of the past and/or chasing after fads of the present, and if so I will repent (turn away) and seek-out where God would take me.
7:51 “You stubborn people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, like your ancestors did! 7:52 Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold long ago the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become! 7:53 You received the law by decrees given by angels, but you did not obey it.”
Stephen is Killed
7:54 When they heard these things, they became furious and ground their teeth at him. 7:55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently toward heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 7:56 “Look!” he said. “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 7:57 But they covered their ears, shouting out with a loud voice, and rushed at him with one intent. 7:58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began to stone him, and the witnesses laid their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. 7:59 They continued to stone Stephen while he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 7:60 Then he fell to his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he died.
8:1 And Saul agreed completely with killing him.
Saul Begins to Persecute the Church
Now on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were forced to scatter throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. 8:2 Some devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. 8:3 But Saul was trying to destroy the church; entering one house after another, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Lord, You blessed Stephen with clarity and purpose, and You also gave him courage and certainty of salvation. May I also find clarity and purpose and courage in the certainty of my salvation and in the perfect righteousness of the Lord God Whom I serve.
Stephen concludes his defense with a powerful challenge to the religious leaders, much the same as those previously given by Jesus and Peter and John and is murdered for it - Stephen becomes the first Christian martyr.
Immediately prior to his death Stephen is given a vision of Jesus standing next to God the Father, then as he dies Stephen reprises the words of Jesus on the Cross for His killers "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." [Note: Those who murdered Stephen carried enough sin to condemn them endlessly, Stephen perhaps did not want his martyrdom to add to that but instead still longed for them to accept and submit to the saving truth of Jesus.]
Saul, who oversaw and approved the stoning of Stephen, initiated a "great persecution" which drove all but the Apostles into hiding. He hunted and imprisoned many in the Church (believers), doing great harm to their fellowship.
The Bible says that all believers will face persecution and that the forces in power and at work in the world today are overwhelmingly aligned against God.
Begin with the context of the historic persecutions of the Church in China, most Muslim nations, and elsewhere - in both the past and in the present. Imagine for the moment that you lived there, how do you think your faith would serve you then?
Stephen demonstrated courage, knowing that the truth would likely cost him his freedom and as-likely his life, he remained undeterred.
When have you known men and women of truth, not noisy self-important or immaturely noisy people, but humble and mature and thoughtful people who valued truth above all else and spoke it boldly when asked without regard to personal consequence?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone who fearlessly shares God's truth whom He wants you encourage with a note or a call or a visit. It may be a missionary, a community or political leader, a religious leader, a student, a co-worker, or someone else who steps out in faith.
Today I will pray that political and religious leaders will listen to God and turn away from paths that lead to the repression and persecution of Christians and devastation to everything that they value in this temporary world.
Philip Preaches in Samaria
8:4 Now those who had been forced to scatter went around proclaiming the good news of the word. 8:5 Philip went down to the main city of Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them. 8:6 The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the miraculous signs he was performing. 8:7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, were coming out of many who were possessed, and many paralyzed and lame people were healed. 8:8 So there was great joy in that city.
8:9 Now in that city was a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic and amazing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. 8:10 All the people, from the least to the greatest, paid close attention to him, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called ‘Great.’” 8:11 And they paid close attention to him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women. 8:13 Even Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized, he stayed close to Philip constantly, and when he saw the signs and great miracles that were occurring, he was amazed.
8:14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 8:15 These two went down and prayed for them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. 8:16 (For the Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 8:17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on the Samaritans, and they received the Holy Spirit.
8:18 Now Simon, when he saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, offered them money, 8:19 saying, “Give me this power too, so that everyone I place my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.” 8:20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire God’s gift with money! 8:21 You have no share or part in this matter because your heart is not right before God! 8:22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that he may perhaps forgive you for the intent of your heart. 8:23 For I see that you are bitterly envious and in bondage to sin.” 8:24 But Simon replied, “You pray to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.”
8:25 So after Peter and John had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many Samaritan villages as they went.
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
8:26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) 8:27 So he got up and went. There he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship, 8:28 and was returning home, sitting in his chariot, reading the prophet Isaiah. 8:29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 8:30 So Philip ran up to it and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. He asked him, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” 8:31 The man replied, “How in the world can I, unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 8:32 Now the passage of scripture the man was reading was this:
“He was led like a sheep to slaughter,
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8:33 In humiliation justice was taken from him.
Who can describe his posterity?
For his life was taken away from the earth.”
8:34 Then the eunuch said to Philip, “Please tell me, who is the prophet saying this about — himself or someone else?” 8:35 So Philip started speaking, and beginning with this scripture proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him. 8:36 Now as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water! What is to stop me from being baptized?” 8:37 [[EMPTY]] 8:38 So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 8:39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any more, but went on his way rejoicing. 8:40 Philip, however, found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through the area, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Lord, You empowered those whom You called, and You redeemed good from Saul's evil intent by using the flight of disciples to spread Your Word even further. May I trust You to provide whatever I need to do whatever You ask me to do.
As the disciples fled Jerusalem in the face of Saul's persecution they were dispersed in Samaria and beyond. The unintended, by Saul, consequence was that the Word was also dispersed.
Philip preached Christ in Samaria and performed "miraculous signs" of healing and the casting-out of demons. [Note: This was the second non-Apostle, Stephen was the other (Acts 6:8) reported as exercising this sort of power.]
A "magician" called Simon had claimed greatness to himself through acts of "magic" yet as the people around him heard Philip and were baptized, even Simon believed and was baptized. Simon then followed Philip closely in awe of the power flowing through him.
Peter and John came to Samaria to pray that the Holy Spirit would come upon the people there. They had been baptized, similar to those baptized by John the Baptist, but they had not yet received the Holy Spirit. [Note: The Apostles were among the few who had not fled in the face of Saul's persecution in Jerusalem.]
Simon remains confused and still trapped in his desire to be the focus of attention and the conduit of power, thus he asks the Apostles to sell him the ability to lay-on hands for the delivery of the Holy Spirit to people. Their discernment tells them that his heart is filled with envy, not a desire to serve others, so they rebuke him sternly and instruct him to pray that the Lord may forgive him. They then returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming Christ along the way.
An angel directed Philip to leave Samaria and follow the desert/wilderness road that connected Jerusalem to Gaza. Along the way he observed an Ethiopian eunuch, a high official to Queen Candace of the Ethiopians. After visiting the Pentecost celebrations in Jerusalem he was reading Isaiah as he traveled. The Holy Spirit prompted Philip to approach him and ask if he understood what he was reading - he invited Philip to explain Isaiah 53:7-8, which he did.
Philip explained how this OT verse prophesied Jesus. The Ethiopian Eunuch immediately asked to be baptized, which Philip did, then the Holy Spirit immediately relocated Philip to Azotus (a city on the southern coast of Palestine). The Eunuch went away rejoicing.
Philip proclaimed the good news of Jesus the Christ from Azotus to Caesarea.
Observe the sequence of faithful obedience which resulted in the baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch; Philip travels where directed, Philip approaches the Eunuch, the Eunuch requests discipleship, Philip shares what God has taught him, the Eunuch requests baptism.
When have you observed someone claiming to be a follower of Biblical Christianity, and even assumed a role in leadership based on a charismatic personality, but then was exposed as a charlatan whose focus was really on their own popularity, power, and profit.?
The Ethiopian Eunuch was so teachable that the moment he understood what the Lord God wanted him to do he humbled himself and did so.
When have you observed that the enemy/the world had successfully attacked a Biblically-faithful ministry then God redeemed it to an even greater effectiveness?
Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to pray for greater patience and discernment within the family of believers as they select and submit to spiritual shepherds at any level.
Today I commit to be available and teachable as the Holy Spirit leads and directs so that He may use me as effectively as He did Philip. I surrender that place of resistance to change and/or risk that I have allowed to be an impediment to Him.
The Conversion of Saul
9:1 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats to murder the Lord’s disciples, went to the high priest 9:2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 9:3 As he was going along, approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 9:4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 9:5 So he said, “Who are you, Lord?” He replied, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting! 9:6 But stand up and enter the city and you will be told what you must do.” 9:7 (Now the men who were traveling with him stood there speechless, because they heard the voice but saw no one.) 9:8 So Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he could see nothing. Leading him by the hand, his companions brought him into Damascus. 9:9 For three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank anything.
9:10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias,” and he replied, “Here I am, Lord.” 9:11 Then the Lord told him, “Get up and go to the street called ‘Straight,’ and at Judas’ house look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For he is praying, 9:12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he may see again.” 9:13 But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, 9:14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call on your name!” 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. 9:16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 9:17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 9:18 Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 9:19 and after taking some food, his strength returned.
For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 9:20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “This man is the Son of God.” 9:21 All who heard him were amazed and were saying, “Is this not the man who in Jerusalem was ravaging those who call on this name, and who had come here to bring them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 9:22 But Saul became more and more capable, and was causing consternation among the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
Lord, You made the attacks upon Christians by Saul — at the behest of the religious leaders — personal. May I always remember that an attack on Biblical Christian faith, and faithfulness, is always an attack upon You.
Saul received letters of authority to persecute Christians in Damascus then set off on his evil mission. Jesus appeared to him as "a light from heaven" Saul "fell to the ground".
The voice, heard also by those accompanying Saul, challenged him "Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" to which Saul replied "Who are you Lord?" and received "I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting!"
Jesus instructed Saul to go to Damascus. Saul was blinded and fasted for three days.
Jesus appeared to Ananias in a vision instructing him to overcome his fears and to fulfill the vision given Saul that he would lay hands on him to restore his vision. Jesus informs Ananias that Saul will now be a friend of Christ. Ananias faithfully does as instructed and Saul is baptized.
Saul spent several days [Note: The precise length of time is unclear from this text.] and then this former enemy of Christ became an active and effective emissary of Christ in the synagogues of Damascus.
It was the obedient, rather than rebellious, responses which allowed God to use these men for His great plan.
Why did Jesus make it personal and what does that mean to us today?
Even Saul recognized the presence of God and responded with humility.
When did you, and perhaps also someone whom you know well, transform from an enemy of Christ to a valuable servant of His? How was that transformation obvious to others?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you those places in your life where you have been resistant and/or rebellious, and distracted, and/or procrastinating.
Today I will pray that the Lord God will find me obedient where I have been resistant - perhaps even rebellious, and cooperative where I have been distracted or procrastinating.
Saul’s Escape from Damascus
9:23 Now after some days had passed, the Jews plotted together to kill him, 9:24 but Saul learned of their plot against him. They were also watching the city gates day and night so that they could kill him. 9:25 But his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall by lowering him in a basket.
Saul Returns to Jerusalem
9:26 When he arrived in Jerusalem, he attempted to associate with the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe that he was a disciple. 9:27 But Barnabas took Saul, brought him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. 9:28 So he was staying with them, associating openly with them in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 9:29 He was speaking and debating with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they were trying to kill him. 9:30 When the brothers found out about this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
9:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace and thus was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church increased in numbers.
Peter Heals Aeneas
9:32 Now as Peter was traveling around from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda. 9:33 He found there a man named Aeneas who had been confined to a mattress for eight years because he was paralyzed. 9:34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Get up and make your own bed!” And immediately he got up. 9:35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Peter Raises Dorcas
9:36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which in translation means Dorcas). She was continually doing good deeds and acts of charity. 9:37 At that time she became sick and died. When they had washed her body, they placed it in an upstairs room. 9:38 Because Lydda was near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Come to us without delay.” 9:39 So Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived they brought him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him, crying and showing him the tunics and other clothing Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 9:40 But Peter sent them all outside, knelt down, and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 9:41 He gave her his hand and helped her get up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive. 9:42 This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 9:43 So Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a man named Simon, a tanner.
Lord, You called Saul — renamed Paul — but then he now faced the same deadly persecution that he had directed toward believers. May I serve You faithful without regard to personal sacrifice.
Paul/Saul had to escape from Damascus because the religious leaders, as had become their pattern, sought to murder him for preaching Christ.
Paul/Saul returned to Jerusalem and attempted to fellowship with the disciples there but they still feared and mistrusted him. Barnabas "son of encouragement" brought him to the
Apostles with the report of his "Damascus Road experience". They accepted him. Paul/Saul then preached Christ to the Greek-speaking Jews which prompted the murderous religious leaders to conspire against him - leading to Paul/Saul's relocation to Caesarea and then Tarsus.
Meanwhile Peter healed Aeneus in Lyddia then raised Dorcas from the dead in Joppa which led to many new believers.
The are many countries in the world where there are restrictions on evangelism (even Israel) and where it is illegal to the point of imprisonment and death.
Does the degree of fear and hatred toward Jesus make it clear what evil power is behind such persecution of and resistance to truth.?
Reflect on the pattern of reaction by those who are rebellious against proclamation of Christ, first they try to suppress the message, then failing they they violently attack the messenger.
When have you, or someone you know well, had to change their job, their neighborhood, their school, or other place of association due to persecution for their faith?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone who has suffered for their faith for whom He wants you to pray and to seek some other way to encourage.
Today I will pray that leaders throughout the world will recognize the truth of Christ and at least cease their persecution of the Church, and perhaps even lead their people to faith.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Acts” — prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in December of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Peter Visits Cornelius
10:1 Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort. 10:2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was all his household; he did many acts of charity for the people and prayed to God regularly. 10:3 About three o’clock one afternoon he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius.” 10:4 Staring at him and becoming greatly afraid, Cornelius replied, “What is it, Lord?” The angel said to him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have gone up as a memorial before God. 10:5 Now send men to Joppa and summon a man named Simon, who is called Peter. 10:6 This man is staying as a guest with a man named Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 10:7 When the angel who had spoken to him departed, Cornelius called two of his personal servants and a devout soldier from among those who served him, 10:8 and when he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
10:9 About noon the next day, while they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10:10 He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing the meal, a trance came over him. 10:11 He saw heaven opened and an object something like a large sheet descending, being let down to earth by its four corners. 10:12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth and wild birds. 10:13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; slaughter and eat!” 10:14 But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord, for I have never eaten anything defiled and ritually unclean!” 10:15 The voice spoke to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not consider ritually unclean!” 10:16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into heaven.
10:17 Now while Peter was puzzling over what the vision he had seen could signify, the men sent by Cornelius had learned where Simon’s house was and approached the gate. 10:18 They called out to ask if Simon, known as Peter, was staying there as a guest. 10:19 While Peter was still thinking seriously about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look! Three men are looking for you. 10:20 But get up, go down, and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.” 10:21 So Peter went down to the men and said, “Here I am, the person you’re looking for. Why have you come?” 10:22 They said, “Cornelius the centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man, well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear a message from you.” 10:23 So Peter invited them in and entertained them as guests.
On the next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 10:24 The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting anxiously for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 10:25 So when Peter came in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him. 10:26 But Peter helped him up, saying, “Stand up. I too am a mere mortal.” 10:27 Peter continued talking with him as he went in, and he found many people gathered together. 10:28 He said to them, “You know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile, yet God has shown me that I should call no person defiled or ritually unclean. 10:29 Therefore when you sent for me, I came without any objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me?” 10:30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this very hour, at three o’clock in the afternoon, I was praying in my house, and suddenly a man in shining clothing stood before me 10:31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your acts of charity have been remembered before God. 10:32 Therefore send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. This man is staying as a guest in the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’ 10:33 Therefore I sent for you at once, and you were kind enough to come. So now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to say to us.”
10:34 Then Peter started speaking: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people, 10:35 but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is welcomed before him. 10:36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all) — 10:37 you know what happened throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 10:38 with respect to Jesus from Nazareth, that God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him. 10:39 We are witnesses of all the things he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 10:40 but God raised him up on the third day and caused him to be seen, 10:41 not by all the people, but by us, the witnesses God had already chosen, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 10:42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to warn them that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. 10:43 About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the message. 10:45 The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were greatly astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 10:46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 10:47 “No one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 10:48 So he gave orders to have them baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for several days.
Lord, Your truth is known, some who should recognize and respond to it do not and others unexpectedly do. May I be alert to observe and ready to obey.
Cornelius, Gentile believer and officer in the “Italian Cohort” (a regiment of 600 soldiers, about 1/10th of a legion), was instructed in a vision to send for Peter. He did so.
Peter, had a vision that challenged his Jewish-only definition of Christianity and community, then was sent to meet with Cornelius - something he would have refused to do prior to the vision.
Peter obediently traveled to Caesarea to meet with Cornelieus, bringing some other believers. Cornelius had gathered people to hear from Peter. Cornelius misunderstood who Peter was and tried to worship him but Peter corrected him, saying “I am a mere mortal ...”. [Note: It is important to recall that throughout the Bible no God-honoring being, man or angel, ever allowed anyone to worship them in any way. Only Jesus, God incarnate, did so.]
Peter and Cornelius shared their experiences with the Lord God through the visions, then, together they discovered that God wanted them to recognize that He plays no favorites based on racial or political or social standing but is interested only in the status of our faith in Jesus and our obedience before Him.
As Peter recited the works of Jesus during His public ministry, and His commandment to the Apostles, the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles whom Cornelius had gathered - the same as it had at Pentecost for those gathered for the Jewish celebrations. [Note: There were Jewish-Christians with Peter whom God needed to witness this because, like Peter, they still struggled with a Jews-only misconception of the ministry of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Note once again that this experience with “speaking in tongues” is clearly identified as the same as at Pentecost where they spoke in “known languages”. This text is unavailable for use as a proof-text for a “Heavenly language”, though such is not herein excluded from the NT, it is simply good scholarship to recognize that such was not reported anywhere in the Gospels, nor so up to this point in the Book of Acts.]
Peter then instructed his Jewish-Christian companions to baptize the Gentiles and to perform a “washing of the feet” act of humble-fellowship to illustrate the teaching - originally direct from Jesus - that there is no more any division between Jew and Gentile.
God repeats Himself in order to overcome our resistance to change. In the late texts of the OT God says that He was bringing a new covenant — one no longer exclusive to the Jewish tribes. Jesus said more than once that there was to no longer be a separation between Jew and Gentile - yet here again He had to repeat Himself because the Apostle Peter still didn't get it.
Can you recall a moment in history, or perhaps from your own personal observation or experience, where "a mere mortal” allowed, or even required, people to worship them? What was the result?
The religious leaders didn't get Jesus but Cornelius, a gentile, did.
When in your life has it has been necessary to cause cliques or other sub-groups to interact with one-another in order to bridge unhealthy divisions? Did it improve things?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of a time, perhaps even recently, where you had been unaware of, or confused about, a Biblical teaching but the Lord God's persistence finally led to a correct understanding.
Today I will share the Lord's correction of my understanding with a fellow believer and ask that God will continue to find me teachable. I will also identify and pray for healing within the Christian family where divisions exist. It may be cliques within a youth group, competition between denominations, stylistic preferences about music or programs, or some other non-Biblical cause.
Peter Defends His Actions to the Jerusalem Church
11:1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles too had accepted the word of God. 11:2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers took issue with him, 11:3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and shared a meal with them.” 11:4 But Peter began and explained it to them point by point, saying, 11:5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, an object something like a large sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came to me. 11:6 As I stared I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and wild birds. 11:7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; slaughter and eat!’ 11:8 But I said, ‘Certainly not, Lord, for nothing defiled or ritually unclean has ever entered my mouth!’ 11:9 But the voice replied a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not consider ritually unclean!’ 11:10 This happened three times, and then everything was pulled up to heaven again. 11:11 At that very moment, three men sent to me from Caesarea approached the house where we were staying. 11:12 The Spirit told me to accompany them without hesitation. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 11:13 He informed us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter, 11:14 who will speak a message to you by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ 11:15 Then as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as he did on us at the beginning. 11:16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, as he used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 11:17 Therefore if God gave them the same gift as he also gave us after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder God?” 11:18 When they heard this, they ceased their objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted the repentance that leads to life even to the Gentiles.”
Activity in the Church at Antioch
11:19 Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message to no one but Jews. 11:20 But there were some men from Cyprus and Cyrene among them who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks too, proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus. 11:21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 11:22 A report about them came to the attention of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 11:23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts, 11:24 because he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and a significant number of people were brought to the Lord. 11:25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to look for Saul, 11:26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught a significant number of people. Now it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
Famine Relief for Judea
11:27 At that time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 11:28 One of them, named Agabus, got up and predicted by the Spirit that a severe famine was about to come over the whole inhabited world. (This took place during the reign of Claudius.) 11:29 So the disciples, each in accordance with his financial ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 11:30 They did so, sending their financial aid to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Lord, You not only overcame the enemy's intent to harm Your mission to Jerusalem — by using the flight of Jews from persecution — You also overcame Jewish-Christian convert resistance to evangelizing Gentiles. May I resist the confused notions of humankind and view things through Your eyes.
Peter was challenged by the Jewish-Christians in Jerusalem and explains his interaction with God and the Gentiles to them in detail - they repented of their objections and praised God.
Disciples who scattered due to the murder-martyrdom of Stephen preached and taught Jews in Phonecia and Cyprus and Antioch but had refused to share with the Gentiles. God raised-up others from Cyprus and Cyrene to send to the Greeks and many were saved.
The gathered believers (the Church) in Jerusalem, recognizing that the “harvest” was ready among the Greeks, sent Barnabas to Antioch and many more were saved. It is here that the Biblical text first actually notes the use of “Christian” as applied to believers.
Famine throughout the Roman Empire is prophesied so the disciples donated relief funds for the Christians in Judea, to be delivered by Barnabas and Saul.
The early Church reacted with outreach to the evidence that many people in a certain area or among a certain population were responding to the invitation of the Holy Spirit - have you observed this in modern times?
The early Church recognized and met the needs of fellow believers - are we taking the same care of fellow believers around the world or do we support organizations that divert some of our funds to non-believers leaving believers in need still in need?
God overcomes fear and prejudice in order to deliver His Word to everyone. Have you observed this done in a faith-community of which you are a member?
When have you observed believers doubting something that clearly was of-God but which a detailed presentation of the circumstances and the relevant Biblical texts resolved the confusion and the potential conflict?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a ministry opportunity in a "harvest-ready area" and/or sub-population.
Today I will pray in agreement for more "workers for the harvest" and as-appropriate either offer to join them and/or send them a financial contribution to support their work.
James is Killed and Peter Imprisoned
12:1 About that time King Herod laid hands on some from the church to harm them. 12:2 He had James, the brother of John, executed with a sword. 12:3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too. (This took place during the feast of Unleavened Bread.) 12:4 When he had seized him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him. Herod planned to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but those in the church were earnestly praying to God for him. 12:6 On that very night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. 12:7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the prison cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly!” And the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. 12:8 The angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” Peter did so. Then the angel said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” 12:9 Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 12:10 After they had passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went outside and walked down one narrow street, when at once the angel left him. 12:11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from everything the Jewish people were expecting to happen.”
12:12 When Peter realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying. 12:13 When he knocked at the door of the outer gate, a slave girl named Rhoda answered. 12:14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she did not open the gate, but ran back in and told them that Peter was standing at the gate. 12:15 But they said to her, “You’ve lost your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was Peter, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 12:16 Now Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were greatly astonished. 12:17 He motioned to them with his hand to be quiet and then related how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell James and the brothers these things,” and then he left and went to another place.
12:18 At daybreak there was great consternation among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 12:19 When Herod had searched for him and did not find him, he questioned the guards and commanded that they be led away to execution. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
12:20 Now Herod was having an angry quarrel with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they joined together and presented themselves before him. And after convincing Blastus, the king’s personal assistant, to help them, they asked for peace, because their country’s food supply was provided by the king’s country. 12:21 On a day determined in advance, Herod put on his royal robes, sat down on the judgment seat, and made a speech to them. 12:22 But the crowd began to shout, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 12:23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck Herod down because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died. 12:24 But the word of God kept on increasing and multiplying.
12:25 So Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had completed their mission, bringing along with them John Mark.
Lord, You protected Peter to complete the ministry which You had assigned to him. May I be confident that You protect and provide for the ministries that You have determined must be completed.
James was murdered by Herod, during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, in order to garner the approval of the religious leaders. James was the first Apostle to be martyred.
Herod then had Peter imprisoned under heavy guard with the intent of a public trial following Passover; however, the believers committed themselves to earnest prayer and God sent an angel to release Peter from prison. Peter walked out with the angel, gates opened without human action, and none of the guards noticed them as they passed.
Peter walked to the home of John and Mary (the mother of Jesus) where the believers had gathered for prayer. The believers doubted that it could be Peter at the gate—even though they had prayed for his protection and release—and thought it was “his angel”.
Peter explained all that happened, asked them to tell James and the “brothers”, then left for a place unmentioned in the text. [Note: It appears that Peter was not yet aware that James had been murdered.] Herod had the guards punished.
Herod traveled to Tyre and Sidon to resolve a conflict, in an effort to mollify the angry ruler the crowd called to him as if he were a god - he (Herod) failed to stop them from that blasphemy - so an angel struck him down and an infestation of intestinal worms slowly killed him from the inside.
Contemplate history since Jesus and try to recall any political or religious leader who has allowed himself to be worship as a god who has lived long and died peacefully.
Why would Herod have been so foolish as to tempt the wrath of the Lord God by permitting the people to worship him as a false god?
There was a convergence of God's plan to preserve Peter for additional ministry (recall that Peter had the prophesy from Jesus that he would die young because of his ministry) and the fervent prayer of the believers for their brother and leader.
When have you observed a leader of any sort permitting people to treat them as a sort of god?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a Christian who has been wrongfully persecuted.
Today I will identify and pray fervently for their freedom and vindication and that God will be glorified in the process. I will also pray for political and religious leaders that they be wise enough to stay far away from anything that approaches the encouragement or acceptance of god-like worship.
The Church at Antioch Commissions Barnabas and Saul
13:1 Now there were these prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen (a close friend of Herod the tetrarch from childhood) and Saul. 13:2 While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 13:3 Then, after they had fasted and prayed and placed their hands on them, they sent them off.
Paul and Barnabas Preach in Cyprus
13:4 So Barnabas and Saul, sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 13:5 When they arrived in Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. (Now they also had John as their assistant.) 13:6 When they had crossed over the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 13:7 who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. The proconsul summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. 13:8 But the magician Elymas (for that is the way his name is translated) opposed them, trying to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 13:9 But Saul (also known as Paul), filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at him 13:10 and said, “You who are full of all deceit and all wrongdoing, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness — will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 13:11 Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind, unable to see the sun for a time!” Immediately mistiness and darkness came over him, and he went around seeking people to lead him by the hand. 13:12 Then when the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, because he was greatly astounded at the teaching about the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas at Pisidian Antioch
13:13 Then Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and returned to Jerusalem. 13:14 Moving on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 13:15 After the reading from the law and the prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, “Brothers, if you have any message of exhortation for the people, speak it.” 13:16 So Paul stood up, gestured with his hand and said,
“Men of Israel, and you Gentiles who fear God, listen: 13:17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay as foreigners in the country of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 13:18 For a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 13:19 After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave his people their land as an inheritance. 13:20 All this took about four hundred fifty years. After this he gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 13:21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 13:22 After removing him, God raised up David their king. He testified about him: ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my heart, who will accomplish everything I want him to do.’ 13:23 From the descendants of this man God brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, just as he promised. 13:24 Before Jesus arrived, John had proclaimed a baptism for repentance to all the people of Israel. 13:25 But while John was completing his mission, he said repeatedly, ‘What do you think I am? I am not he. But look, one is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet!’ 13:26 Brothers, descendants of Abraham’s family, and those Gentiles among you who fear God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us. 13:27 For the people who live in Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him, and they fulfilled the sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath by condemning him. 13:28 Though they found no basis for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 13:29 When they had accomplished everything that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. 13:30 But God raised him from the dead, 13:31 and for many days he appeared to those who had accompanied him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are now his witnesses to the people. 13:32 And we proclaim to you the good news about the promise to our ancestors, 13:33 that this promise God has fulfilled to us, their children, by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son; today I have fathered you.’ 13:34 But regarding the fact that he has raised Jesus from the dead, never again to be in a state of decay, God has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and trustworthy promises made to David.’ 13:35 Therefore he also says in another psalm, ‘You will not permit your Holy One to experience decay.’ 13:36 For David, after he had served God’s purpose in his own generation, died, was buried with his ancestors, and experienced decay, 13:37 but the one whom God raised up did not experience decay. 13:38 Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through this one forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 13:39 and by this one everyone who believes is justified from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify you. 13:40 Watch out, then, that what is spoken about by the prophets does not happen to you:
13:41 ‘Look, you scoffers; be amazed and perish!
For I am doing a work in your days,
a work you would never believe, even if someone tells you.’”
13:42 As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people were urging them to speak about these things on the next Sabbath. 13:43 When the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and were persuading them to continue in the grace of God.
13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city assembled together to hear the word of the Lord. 13:45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they began to contradict what Paul was saying by reviling him. 13:46 Both Paul and Barnabas replied courageously, “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles. 13:47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have appointed you to be a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began to rejoice and praise the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed for eternal life believed. 13:49 So the word of the Lord was spreading through the entire region. 13:50 But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high social standing and the prominent men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their region. 13:51 So after they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, they went to Iconium. 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Lord, You prepare teachable hearts and then use the willing to reap Your harvest. May I be willing, available, and teachable.
The Holy Spirit prompted the Antioch Church (gathered believers) to fast and pray and then lay-hands on Barnabas and Saul/Paul to commission them to be sent-out.
Barnabas and Paul, with John, preached in Cyprus. A magician who was also a false Jewish-prophet tried to keep the proconsul from accepting the truth of God was struck blind by the Holy Spirit through Paul and the proconsul was saved.
John returned to Jerusalem and Barnabas and Paul continued through Perga to Pisidian Antioch where they were invited to share at the synagogue. There they reviewed the Biblical record, concluding with a challenging condemnation of those who rejected Jesus whom they should have recognized as the Messiah.
Many believed, the existing believers were encouraged, and they were asked to return for the next Sabbath gathering. The religious leaders were jealous and began personal and religious attacks upon Paul and Barnabas.
Paul and Barnabas replied that since the religious leaders did not find themselves worthy of eternal life they would instead go to the Gentiles. [Note: They abandoned the religious leaders and their followers, all of whom had proved unteachable.]
The Gentiles rejoiced and many were saved but the religious leaders incited the upper class citizens to persecute and ultimately banish Paul and Barnabas - who then “shook the dust off their feet” [symbolically condemning them to their rejection of God’s gift of salvation] and took their ministry to Iconium where “the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit”.
The enemy tried to use the magician to interfere with the evangelizing of the proconsul but the Lord God, through Paul, struck him blind — demonstrating His presence and His power.
Isn’t it amazing that all Paul and Barnabas had to do was to review the Biblical record, essentially what we know as the Old Testament, and many recognized and surrendered to the Messiah?
How interesting is the difference between those who were teachable - welcoming the truth even though it challenged much of what they had previously believed and would upset their social status - versus those who violently rejected obvious truth.
When have you or someone you know, had to "shake the dust off your sandals" and move on when someone with whom you were sharing truth demonstrated a rigid refusal to consider truth.
Ask the Holy Spirit to direct me to where the Lord God wants to send me where His truth will be heard.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me for the discernment to recognize the difference between someone whom the Holy Spirit has prepared for "harvest" and one who is unteachable - and the strength and wisdom to walk away from the unteachable.
Paul and Barnabas at Iconium
14:1 The same thing happened in Iconium when Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a large group of both Jews and Greeks believed. 14:2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 14:3 So they stayed there for a considerable time, speaking out courageously for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace, granting miraculous signs and wonders to be performed through their hands. 14:4 But the population of the city was divided; some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. 14:5 When both the Gentiles and the Jews (together with their rulers) made an attempt to mistreat them and stone them, 14:6 Paul and Barnabas learned about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding region. 14:7 There they continued to proclaim the good news.
Paul and Barnabas at Lystra
14:8 In Lystra sat a man who could not use his feet, lame from birth, who had never walked. 14:9 This man was listening to Paul as he was speaking. When Paul stared intently at him and saw he had faith to be healed, 14:10 he said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And the man leaped up and began walking. 14:11 So when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 14:12 They began to call Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 14:13 The priest of the temple of Zeus, located just outside the city, brought bulls and garlands to the city gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifices to them. 14:14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, 14:15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We too are men, with human natures just like you! We are proclaiming the good news to you, so that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them. 14:16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own ways, 14:17 yet he did not leave himself without a witness by doing good, by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying you with food and your hearts with joy.” 14:18 Even by saying these things, they scarcely persuaded the crowds not to offer sacrifice to them.
14:19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and after winning the crowds over, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, presuming him to be dead. 14:20 But after the disciples had surrounded him, he got up and went back into the city. On the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria
14:21 After they had proclaimed the good news in that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch. 14:22 They strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, “We must enter the kingdom of God through many persecutions.” 14:23 When they had appointed elders for them in the various churches, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the protection of the Lord in whom they had believed. 14:24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia, 14:25 and when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 14:26 From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 14:27 When they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported all the things God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. 14:28 So they spent considerable time with the disciples.
Lord, You said that You were opening the doors to Gentiles, that there would no longer be a separation between Jew and Gentile, and You made it happen. May I always beware of false divisions among the people of Your Church (believers, not buildings, not human-assembled religious institutions) and favoritism toward the people-groups to be reached, insisting that all be treated with equal regard, just as You have commanded.
Barnabas and Paul shared at the Word at Lystra, much the same conflict occurred there as in Pisidian Antioch with many new believers, challenges to the truth from religious leaders who did not want the truth to be told, and a threat against their lives which led to Paul and Barnabas moving on “to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region.”
Paul called out the healing of God in a lame man whose faith the Holy Spirit disclosed to him and the pagan worshipers there offered sacrifices to them. Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes and cried out against their misplaced worship. Despite their efforts to persuade them to the truth the people resisted, then the religious leaders arrived to take advantage of the chaos and manipulated the crowd into dragging Paul out of the city where they stoned and left him for dead. The disciples gathered and prayed and Paul revived, returned to the city, then left with Barnabas for Derbe where they declared the Word.
Barnabas and Paul then return to Lystra, then Iconium, and Antioch in Syria where they “appointed elders for them in the various churches” [Note: Churches referred to the gatherings of believers in parts of the various communities. The term “elder” here refers to someone who would meet the requirements of a Deacon but serve as something like an Apostle.]
They continued on eventually arriving home in Antioch from where they had been commissioned for the journey, sharing all that God had done then staying a long while with the disciples.
How our modern-day notion of "pastor" may have drawn a parallel to the "elder" of ACTS 14.
Isn’t it amazing how quickly the people were turned from worship to murder?
Pagans often try to make everything fit their beliefs and practices, such as trying to make Jesus fit into an existing religious system, or forcing non-Biblical elements into an otherwise Biblical gathering.
When have you observed an idolatry of a celebrity or religious leader?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to me any place where I may have drifted into the acceptance of a non-Biblical belief about an organization or a person.
Today I will prayerfully consider all that I do in my daily walk and times of gathering together with other believers, looking carefully for any indication of an element of non-Biblical elements slipping in. I will also pray for safety and wisdom for the spiritual leader or leaders of my Christian fellowship.
The Jerusalem Council
15:1 Now some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 15:2 When Paul and Barnabas had a major argument and debate with them, the church appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to meet with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this point of disagreement. 15:3 So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they were relating at length the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers. 15:4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all the things God had done with them. 15:5 But some from the religious party of the Pharisees who had believed stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and to order them to observe the law of Moses.”
15:6 Both the apostles and the elders met together to deliberate about this matter. 15:7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message of the gospel and believe. 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 15:9 and he made no distinction between them and us, cleansing their hearts by faith. 15:10 So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? 15:11 On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are.”
15:12 The whole group kept quiet and listened to Barnabas and Paul while they explained all the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 15:13 After they stopped speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 15:14 Simeon has explained how God first concerned himself to select from among the Gentiles a people for his name. 15:15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written,
15:16 ‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen tent of David; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it,
15:17 so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, namely, all the Gentiles I have called to be my own,’ says the Lord, who makes these things 15:18 known from long ago.
15:19 “Therefore I conclude that we should not cause extra difficulty for those among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 15:20 but that we should write them a letter telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood. 15:21 For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every town from ancient times, because he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
15:22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to send men chosen from among them, Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers, to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. 15:23 They sent this letter with them:
From the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, greetings! 15:24 Since we have heard that some have gone out from among us with no orders from us and have confused you, upsetting your minds by what they said, 15:25 we have unanimously decided to choose men to send to you along with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, 15:26 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15:27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas who will tell you these things themselves in person. 15:28 For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place any greater burden on you than these necessary rules: 15:29 that you abstain from meat that has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what has been strangled and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from doing these things, you will do well. Farewell.
15:30 So when they were dismissed, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the entire group together, they delivered the letter. 15:31 When they read it aloud, the people rejoiced at its encouragement. 15:32 Both Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long speech. 15:33 After they had spent some time there, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 15:34 [[EMPTY]] 15:35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming (along with many others) the word of the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas Part Company
15:36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord to see how they are doing.” 15:37 Barnabas wanted to bring John called Mark along with them too, 15:38 but Paul insisted that they should not take along this one who had left them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. 15:39 They had a sharp disagreement, so that they parted company. Barnabas took along Mark and sailed away to Cyprus, 15:40 but Paul chose Silas and set out, commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers and sisters. 15:41 He passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Lord, the early participants in Your “Church” faced many challenges, internal struggles with tradition-bound Jews and conflict among other members. May I pray regularly for peace and wisdom among believers — and to expect the same of myself.
The Jerusalem Counsel attempted to impose legalistic Judaism on the Gentile believers, Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James all reflected on God’s sending of them to the Gentiles and His teaching that one is saved by responding to Jesus through the Holy Spirit in faith.
They agreed not to add the artificial “difficulty” of mandatory circumcision but instead sent a letter of instruction and encouragement to live righteously.
Judas-Barsabbas and Silas traveled with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch to explain the decision of the Apostles as to the Gentile believers, the others returned to Jerusalem while Paul and Barnabas remained.
Barnabas and Paul parted company due to Mark [apparently Mark had abandoned them in Pamphylia and lost Paul’s trust] so Barnabas took Mark and set out for Cyprus while Paul took Silas and went to Syria and Cilicia.
It took Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James to persuade the Jerusalem Counsel not to impose legalistic Judaism upon the new Gentile believers.
Why would Jewish believers try to impose mandatory circumcision and other Jewish traditions upon Gentile converts?
Even apostles and disciples struggled with interpersonal relationships.
When have you Share a time when religious leaders, or others with influence and power, tried to impose extra-Biblical traditions upon new believers. What was the result?
Share a time when there was a disagreement among the leaders of a Christian fellowship and some leaders went separate ways. What was the result?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a relationship for which He wants you to pray for reconciliation between leaders who have gone separate ways due to a conflict.
Today I will Today I will pray that Christian religious leaders everywhere will refrain from distortions of the Word of God that come from confusing tradition with truth and the discouragement that may create for new and potential new believers.
Timothy Joins Paul and Silas
16:1 He also came to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 16:2 The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 16:3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was Greek. 16:4 As they went through the towns, they passed on the decrees that had been decided on by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the Gentile believers to obey. 16:5 So the churches were being strengthened in the faith and were increasing in number every day.
Paul’s Vision of the Macedonian Man
16:6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in the province of Asia. 16:7 When they came to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to do this, 16:8 so they passed through Mysia and went down to Troas. 16:9 A vision appeared to Paul during the night: A Macedonian man was standing there urging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 16:10 After Paul saw the vision, we attempted immediately to go over to Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
Arrival at Philippi
16:11 We put out to sea from Troas and sailed a straight course to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, 16:12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia, a Roman colony. We stayed in this city for some days. 16:13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate to the side of the river, where we thought there would be a place of prayer, and we sat down and began to speak to the women who had assembled there. 16:14 A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, a God-fearing woman, listened to us. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. 16:15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me to be a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house.” And she persuaded us.
Paul and Silas Are Thrown Into Prison
16:16 Now as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit that enabled her to foretell the future by supernatural means. She brought her owners a great profit by fortune-telling. 16:17 She followed behind Paul and us and kept crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” 16:18 She continued to do this for many days. But Paul became greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out of her at once. 16:19 But when her owners saw their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. 16:20 When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, “These men are throwing our city into confusion. They are Jews 16:21 and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us to accept or practice, since we are Romans.”
16:22 The crowd joined the attack against them, and the magistrates tore the clothes off Paul and Silas and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 16:23 After they had beaten them severely, they threw them into prison and commanded the jailer to guard them securely. 16:24 Receiving such orders, he threw them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the rest of the prisoners were listening to them. 16:26 Suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors flew open, and the bonds of all the prisoners came loose. 16:27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, because he assumed the prisoners had escaped. 16:28 But Paul called out loudly, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 16:29 Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell down trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. 16:30 Then he brought them outside and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” 16:32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him, along with all those who were in his house. 16:33 At that hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized right away. 16:34 The jailer brought them into his house and set food before them, and he rejoiced greatly that he had come to believe in God, together with his entire household. 16:35 At daybreak the magistrates sent their police officers, saying, “Release those men.” 16:36 The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. So come out now and go in peace.” 16:37 But Paul said to the police officers, “They had us beaten in public without a proper trial — even though we are Roman citizens — and they threw us in prison. And now they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! They themselves must come and escort us out!” 16:38 The police officers reported these words to the magistrates. They were frightened when they heard Paul and Silas were Roman citizens 16:39 and came and apologized to them. After they brought them out, they asked them repeatedly to leave the city. 16:40 When they came out of the prison, they entered Lydia’s house, and when they saw the brothers, they encouraged them and then departed.
Lord, You called Timothy to ministry and like-Paul he was willing to whatever was necessary to remove obstacles to his value as Your instrument of saving-truth. May I be as willing to set-aside that which may be a distraction to Your message to a dark and dying world.
Timothy joined Paul and Silas, but first Paul circumcised him so that the Jews who knew that his father was a Greek and his mother a Jew could not use that, or his failure to be circumcised, as an excuse to reject him as a leader.
The Holy Spirit prevented them from “speaking the message” in the Roman province of Asia or Bithynia but in Troas Paul had a vision (from God) of a man in Macedonia pleading for them to come there so they began the journey.
They first arrived in Philippi where they spoke with some women by the river, among them Lydia, a woman whose heart was inclined toward the Lord. She and her family were baptized then she invited them to stay at her home.
Paul cast the demon out of a young girl who was being used for profit as a fortune-teller and her slave-masters, angry at the loss of profit, had Paul and Silas imprisoned. They were beaten and thrown into prison where Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God.
God freed them from prison, as He had Peter, and when the jailer threatened suicide due to their escape Paul stopped him and shared Christ. The jailer and his family were baptized. [Note: This is not about a parent being saved and their minor-children being saved by association. The same qualifications apply as elsewhere, one must be capable of comprehending what one is doing if one is to make a meaningful decision for-Christ. The Biblically-consistent presumption has to be that both of these families consisted of older children and adults, and/or that those who were baptised were such — and that very young children simply were not intended in the general “family” phrase. Example: “The whole family walked to the car and drove away.” Did the baby-in-arms walk? Of course not. The generic expression was not intended to be that detailed.]
When the magistrates came to set them free Paul challenged them with his Roman citizenship and their mistreatment without a trial - a serious crime against a citizen - terrified they apologized, personally escorted them away from the jail, then begged him to leave. They visited briefly with the “brothers” at Lydia’s house then left.
Timothy was not required by the Lord God to be circumcised, no Christian was, but he agreed in order to remove that from the excuses the enemy would give to those who might resist him as he served the Lord.
Lydia and the jailer heart the truth and because their hearts were teachable they accepted it and were saved — and they led their families to saving truth as well.
There are times when believers may be persecuted because non-believers blame them for lost income or lost influence, perhaps due to superstition, or perhaps a conflict of morality.
When have you had an experience where a sacrifice of comfort or convenience was made by a leader in order to bypass resistance to the truth of God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a leader in the Christian family who has sacrificed in order to be a more effective servant of the Lord.
Today I will pray for that leader and for a believer, or a gathering of believers, who are being persecuted by non-believers for selfish reasons.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Acts” — prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in December of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Paul and Silas at Thessalonica
17:1 After they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 17:2 Paul went to the Jews in the synagogue, as he customarily did, and on three Sabbath days he addressed them from the scriptures, 17:3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, saying, “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” 17:4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large group of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. 17:5 But the Jews became jealous, and gathering together some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace, they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. They attacked Jason’s house, trying to find Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly. 17:6 When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, screaming, “These people who have stirred up trouble throughout the world have come here too, 17:7 and Jason has welcomed them as guests! They are all acting against Caesar’s decrees, saying there is another king named Jesus!” 17:8 They caused confusion among the crowd and the city officials who heard these things. 17:9 After the city officials had received bail from Jason and the others, they released them.
Paul and Silas at Berea
17:10 The brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea at once, during the night. When they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 17:11 These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so. 17:12 Therefore many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men. 17:13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica heard that Paul had also proclaimed the word of God in Berea, they came there too, inciting and disturbing the crowds. 17:14 Then the brothers sent Paul away to the coast at once, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea. 17:15 Those who accompanied Paul escorted him as far as Athens, and after receiving an order for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.
Paul at Athens
17:16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was greatly upset because he saw the city was full of idols. 17:17 So he was addressing the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles in the synagogue, and in the marketplace every day those who happened to be there. 17:18 Also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were asking, “What does this foolish babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods.” (They said this because he was proclaiming the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.) 17:19 So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are proclaiming? 17:20 For you are bringing some surprising things to our ears, so we want to know what they mean.” 17:21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there used to spend their time in nothing else than telling or listening to something new.)
17:22 So Paul stood before the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in all respects. 17:23 For as I went around and observed closely your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: ‘To an unknown god.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it, this I proclaim to you. 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands, 17:25 nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone. 17:26 From one man he made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the fixed limits of the places where they would live, 17:27 so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 17:28 For in him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ 17:29 So since we are God’s offspring, we should not think the deity is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by human skill and imagination. 17:30 Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent, 17:31 because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
17:32 Now when they heard about the resurrection from the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 17:33 So Paul left the Areopagus. 17:34 But some people joined him and believed. Among them were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Lord, Your truth is available to everyone but some will refuse to listen and others will reject You when they hear. May I be patient and respectfully-persistent in sharing, wise in moving-on when confronted by unteachable spirits, and joyful for those whom Your Holy Spirit has prepared to receive Christ.
Paul & Silas at Thessalonica once again preached Christ at the local Synagogue. Some Jews and many “God-fearing Greeks” responded. Once again the religious leaders bribed thugs to lie and to cause violence to disrupt things.
Paul and Silas departed for Berea where the local Jews were more receptive but the religious leaders from Thessalonica followed them to Berea and again caused trouble.
Paul moved on to Athens while Silas and Timothy remained in Berea. In Athens he was troubled by the many idols but preached Christ in the Synagogue to Jews and “God-fearing Greeks”. Some of the local philosophers invited him to share with them and he did so—using an idol he had observed labeled “The Unknown God” as a point of contact.
Some believed, but many scoffed and remained unteachable.
The pattern of response, as Jesus prophesied, His message was to be (and is) highly polarizing - people tend to either accept it or react violently against it - recruiting others through fear and misinformation.
How is it that some personalities draw a stronger reaction than others; Silas and Timothy were able to remain and continue the harvest and the discipleship of new believers in Berea whereas Paul needed to move on?
The boldness of Paul was amazing, in light of the many beatings and imprisonments and efforts to murder him, he faithfully preached Christ anywhere and everywhere.
When have you observed one Christian leader being effective in “plowing the ground” but another with a different style being the one who could most-effectively “reap the harvest” or disciple the new believers?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone who is facing aggressive opposition as they share Christ.
Today I will pray earnestly for the one whom the Holy Spirit has made e aware. This is not about someone in the political realm or someone engaged more in evangelizing for a denomination or a local philosophy (one that may confuse a pet religious theory or tradition with God's sovereign truth) but someone genuinely preaching the essential and uncluttered Word of God. I will pray for safety, a good harvest, and a powerful testimony.
Paul at Corinth
18:1 After this Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. 18:2 There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to depart from Rome. Paul approached them, 18:3 and because he worked at the same trade, he stayed with them and worked with them (for they were tentmakers by trade). 18:4 He addressed both Jews and Greeks in the synagogue every Sabbath, attempting to persuade them.
18:5 Now when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul became wholly absorbed with proclaiming the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 18:6 When they opposed him and reviled him, he protested by shaking out his clothes and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am guiltless! From now on I will go to the Gentiles!” 18:7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went to the house of a person named Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 18:8 Crispus, the president of the synagogue, believed in the Lord together with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard about it believed and were baptized. 18:9 The Lord said to Paul by a vision in the night, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent, 18:10 because I am with you, and no one will assault you to harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 18:11 So he stayed there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Paul Before the Proconsul Gallio
18:12 Now while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews attacked Paul together and brought him before the judgment seat, 18:13 saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God in a way contrary to the law!” 18:14 But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some crime or serious piece of villainy, I would have been justified in accepting the complaint of you Jews, 18:15 but since it concerns points of disagreement about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I will not be a judge of these things!” 18:16 Then he had them forced away from the judgment seat. 18:17 So they all seized Sosthenes, the president of the synagogue, and began to beat him in front of the judgment seat. Yet none of these things were of any concern to Gallio.
Paul Returns to Antioch in Syria
18:18 Paul, after staying many more days in Corinth, said farewell to the brothers and sailed away to Syria accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because he had made a vow. 18:19 When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila behind there, but he himself went into the synagogue and addressed the Jews. 18:20 When they asked him to stay longer, he would not consent, 18:21 but said farewell to them and added, “I will come back to you again if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus, 18:22 and when he arrived at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem and then went down to Antioch. 18:23 After he spent some time there, Paul left and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Apollos Begins His Ministry
18:24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, arrived in Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker, well-versed in the scriptures. 18:25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm he spoke and taught accurately the facts about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John. 18:26 He began to speak out fearlessly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately. 18:27 When Apollos wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he assisted greatly those who had believed by grace, 18:28 for he refuted the Jews vigorously in public debate, demonstrating from the scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Lord, You called many and blessed them with teachers as they came to You with teachable spirits. May I remember that no matter how You gift me, no matter how others may admire me because of those gifts, I am always merely Your instrument of ministry and the gifts are from You and for You.
Paul at Corinth worked making tents alongside of Acquila and Priscilla, relocated believing Jews from Rome. He preached Christ and again was opposed by the religious leaders—and again he symbolically “shook out his clothes”, declaring that he would instead share Christ with the Gentiles rather than the Jews.
Among the Jews who were saved was Crispus, President of the Synagogue, and he led his family along with him. God encouraged Paul to continue in Corinth, reminding Paul that He had many there who were among His Family.
Time passed and Sosthenes had assumed Presidency of the Synagogue from Crispus. The religious leaders made charges and had Paul brought before the Roman Proconsul Gallio. Before Paul could speak Gallio dismissed the case as a local religious dispute. The angry religious leaders physically attacked Sosthenes, more evidence of their evil natures.
Paul traveled with Aquila and Priscilla to Antioch in Syria, first shaving his head as a private vow of thanksgiving and commitment, then continued on to Ephesus. While they remained Paul continued on to Caesarea, Jerusalem, Antioch, Galatia, and Phrygia “strengthening all the disciples”.
In Ephesus a charismatic Jewish convert named Apollos began his ministry. While highly effective in sharing the message of John the Baptist - Aquila and Priscilla were sent by God to explain the rest of the “way of God” in Christ to him. Apollos then traveled to Achaia where he preached Christ and refuted the false teachings of the religious leaders.
Paul, formerly a member of the religious elite and now a Christian, was so humble as to willingly perform manual labor making tents alongside other converted (some would say "completed") Jews. The example of Paul here is a good one.
Have you experienced a gifted leader who shared the teachable spirit of Apollos? Although he was a charismatic personality with many admirers when he was approached by Aquila and Priscilla he humbly accepted their teaching and was enriched as a leader by it.
God was multiplying and distributing His leadership; first the Apostles, then the Deacons, and now disciples like Aquila and Priscilla and Apollos - discipling and preaching and teaching His truth in many cities and regions.
When have you experienced or observed a Christian fellowship that included an unusually-wide sociological range of saved people as a result of the faithful preaching of Christ? Compare that to the time of Paul's ministry when it ranged from the President of a Synagogue to the average Jew, to Greek philosophers to the average Gentile. God is "no respecter of persons" - drawing near anyone who freely responds to His invitation.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a Christian leader who may be laboring bi-vocationally, perhaps due to the enemy blocking their ministry, perhaps being humbled or taught something important by God.
Today I will Today I will pray for that Christian leader. I will also pray for new and bold and vigorous and teachable new leaders who will preach Christ with integrity and grit and that older leaders will make room for them.
Disciples of John the Baptist at Ephesus
19:1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples there 19:2 and said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 19:3 So Paul said, “Into what then were you baptized?” “Into John’s baptism,” they replied. 19:4 Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, 19:6 and when Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. 19:7 (Now there were about twelve men in all.)
Paul Continues to Minister at Ephesus
19:8 So Paul entered the synagogue and spoke out fearlessly for three months, addressing and convincing them about the kingdom of God. 19:9 But when some were stubborn and refused to believe, reviling the Way before the congregation, he left them and took the disciples with him, addressing them every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 19:10 This went on for two years, so that all who lived in the province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.
The Seven Sons of Sceva
19:11 God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, 19:12 so that when even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body were brought to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. 19:13 But some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by evil spirits, saying, “I sternly warn you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 19:14 (Now seven sons of a man named Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.) 19:15 But the evil spirit replied to them, “I know about Jesus and I am acquainted with Paul, but who are you?” 19:16 Then the man who was possessed by the evil spirit jumped on them and beat them all into submission. He prevailed against them so that they fled from that house naked and wounded. 19:17 This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; fear came over them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised. 19:18 Many of those who had believed came forward, confessing and making their deeds known. 19:19 Large numbers of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them up in the presence of everyone. When the value of the books was added up, it was found to total fifty thousand silver coins. 19:20 In this way the word of the Lord continued to grow in power and to prevail.
A Riot in Ephesus
19:21 Now after all these things had taken place, Paul resolved to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. He said, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” 19:22 So after sending two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, he himself stayed on for a while in the province of Asia.
19:23 At that time a great disturbance took place concerning the Way. 19:24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought a great deal of business to the craftsmen. 19:25 He gathered these together, along with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this business. 19:26 And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded and turned away a large crowd, not only in Ephesus but in practically all of the province of Asia, by saying that gods made by hands are not gods at all. 19:27 There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as nothing, and she whom all the province of Asia and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.”
19:28 When they heard this they became enraged and began to shout, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 19:29 The city was filled with the uproar, and the crowd rushed to the theater together, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. 19:30 But when Paul wanted to enter the public assembly, the disciples would not let him. 19:31 Even some of the provincial authorities who were his friends sent a message to him, urging him not to venture into the theater. 19:32 So then some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had met together. 19:33 Some of the crowd concluded it was about Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front. Alexander, gesturing with his hand, was wanting to make a defense before the public assembly. 19:34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” for about two hours. 19:35 After the city secretary quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what person is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image that fell from heaven? 19:36 So because these facts are indisputable, you must keep quiet and not do anything reckless. 19:37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. 19:38 If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against someone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there. 19:39 But if you want anything in addition, it will have to be settled in a legal assembly. 19:40 For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause we can give to explain this disorderly gathering.” 19:41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
Lord, You not only called converts You called them to be disciples and to grow and then to tell and teach others. May I be as alert to an opportunity to disciple as I am to one to evangelize.
Paul traveled through Macedonia and Greece with several disciples, including the author of Acts, Luke. On his last day in Troas he spoke until midnight and a young man fell asleep on the 3rd story ledge and fell to the ground. Paul threw himself upon him, a conduit for the healing power of the Holy Spirit, and the boys life was restored.
Paul set out on a voyage to Miletus, bypassing Ephesus, but asking them to instead meet him there. He reviewed his ministry with them, shared his understanding from the Holy Spirit that he would not live to return to Ephesus, and warned them to beware false teachers.
The seven sons of Sceva tried to copy Paul, though they were not saved, so when they challenged the demon in a possessed man the demon challenged them back and then empowered the man to beat them. Jesus was praised and fifty thousand silver coins worth of magic books and other items were voluntarily destroyed by the people.
The makers of silver artifacts to a false god stirred up trouble and violence broke out in Ephesus, nearly a riot, but a leader calmed the people — warning them that the Romans would treat them badly for causing trouble without cause — that if they had a legal complain against Paul and the others they needed to take it before a proper court.
Paul informed the disciples that he was going on to Jerusalem, knowing that there waited the most fierce and violent opposition to the Word of God about Christ.
The short-sightedness of the makers of silver statues to a false god not only almost got the into serious trouble with the Romans it kept them from eternal salvation.
Why were the sons of Sceva powerless before the demon-possessed man but Paul and the disciples could command the demons to depart and they had to obey?
The points of emphasis in Paul's parting words to the "elders of the church" from Ephesus:
I served you with humility
I declared Christ despite the threats of the religious leaders
I worked with my hands to support myself and those with me
I earnestly discipled you and now expect you to do the same for others
Just as Jesus had Judas you have weak men among you who will betray you
The "elders" are to care for and feed the flock, as Jesus instructed the Apostle Peter
When have you observed someone stuck in the “baptism of John”, repentant of their sins — pre-saved — but not yet surrendered to the Lordship of Christ and indwelt by the Holy Spirit?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to me His inventory of my service to Christ, based on the list from Paul's summary, and to motivate me where I need to make adjustments.
I will identify at least one of the items that "convicts" me where I fall-short and will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me for improvement. Today I will take a look at the fellowship with which I am affiliated to measure health and teachability.
Paul Travels Through Macedonia and Greece
20:1 After the disturbance had ended, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he left to go to Macedonia. 20:2 After he had gone through those regions and spoken many words of encouragement to the believers there, he came to Greece, 20:3 where he stayed for three months. Because the Jews had made a plot against him as he was intending to sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 20:4 Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, and Timothy, as well as Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 20:5 These had gone on ahead and were waiting for us in Troas. 20:6 We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and within five days we came to the others in Troas, where we stayed for seven days. 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul began to speak to the people, and because he intended to leave the next day, he extended his message until midnight. 20:8 (Now there were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting.) 20:9 A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep while Paul continued to speak for a long time. Fast asleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. 20:10 But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, put his arms around him, and said, “Do not be distressed, for he is still alive!” 20:11 Then Paul went back upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he talked with them a long time, until dawn. Then he left. 20:12 They took the boy home alive and were greatly comforted.
The Voyage to Miletus
20:13 We went on ahead to the ship and put out to sea for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for he had arranged it this way. He himself was intending to go there by land. 20:14 When he met us in Assos, we took him aboard and went to Mitylene. 20:15 We set sail from there, and on the following day we arrived off Chios. The next day we approached Samos, and the day after that we arrived at Miletus. 20:16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so as not to spend time in the province of Asia, for he was hurrying to arrive in Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost. 20:17 From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, telling the elders of the church to come to him.
20:18 When they arrived, he said to them, “You yourselves know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I set foot in the province of Asia, 20:19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, and with the trials that happened to me because of the plots of the Jews. 20:20 You know that I did not hold back from proclaiming to you anything that would be helpful, and from teaching you publicly and from house to house, 20:21 testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus. 20:22 And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem without knowing what will happen to me there, 20:23 except that the Holy Spirit warns me in town after town that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me. 20:24 But I do not consider my life worth anything to myself, so that I may finish my task and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.
20:25 “And now I know that none of you among whom I went around proclaiming the kingdom will see me again. 20:26 Therefore I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of you all. 20:27 For I did not hold back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God. 20:28 Watch out for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. 20:29 I know that after I am gone fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 20:30 Even from among your own group men will arise, teaching perversions of the truth to draw the disciples away after them. 20:31 Therefore be alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears. 20:32 And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace. This message is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 20:33 I have desired no one’s silver or gold or clothing. 20:34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine provided for my needs and the needs of those who were with me. 20:35 By all these things, I have shown you that by working in this way we must help the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
20:36 When he had said these things, he knelt down with them all and prayed. 20:37 They all began to weep loudly, and hugged Paul and kissed him, 20:38 especially saddened by what he had said, that they were not going to see him again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
Lord, You caused the apostle Paul to evangelize and disciple, then he transferred leadership and instructed them all to persevere and to watch out for deceivers. May I also be a useful instrument but then not tarry when my service is complete and I need to be elsewhere.
Paul traveled through Macedonia and Greece with several disciples, including the author of Acts, Luke. On his last day in Troas he spoke until midnight and a young man fell asleep on the 3rd story ledge and fell to the ground. Paul threw himself upon him, a conduit for the healing power of the Holy Spirit, and the boys life was restored.
Paul set out on a voyage to Miletus, bypassing Ephesus, but asking them to instead meet him there. He reviewed his ministry with them, shared his understanding from the Holy Spirit that he would not live to return to Ephesus, and warned them to beware false teachers.
Paul informed them that he was going on to Jerusalem, knowing that there waited the most fierce and violent opposition to the Word of God about Christ.
Consider
The key points of emphasis in Paul's parting words to the "elders of the church" from Ephesus:
I served you with humility
I declared Christ despite the threats of the religious leaders
I worked with my hands to support myself and those with me
I earnestly discipled you and now expect you to do the same for others
Just as Jesus had Judas you have weak men among you who will betray you
The “elders” are to care for and feed the flock, as Jesus instructed the Apostle Peter
To what message from the Lord God to an Old Testament prophet was Paul referring when he said in Acts 20:26-27 “Therefore I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of you all. For I did not hold back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God.“
Paul warned them to be watchful because deceivers would come.
When have you experienced or observed a deceiver come into a fellowship?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a ministry you may need to hand-off to someone else, a threat to ministry from bad teaching or other deception, and/or and opportunity to be His instrument of emotional, intellectual, physical, and/or spiritual healing.
Today I will step out of my comfort zone of ministry in faith that He is in control.
Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem
21:1 After we tore ourselves away from them, we put out to sea, and sailing a straight course, we came to Cos, on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 21:2 We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went aboard, and put out to sea. 21:3 After we sighted Cyprus and left it behind on our port side, we sailed on to Syria and put in at Tyre, because the ship was to unload its cargo there. 21:4 After we located the disciples, we stayed there seven days. They repeatedly told Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem. 21:5 When our time was over, we left and went on our way. All of them, with their wives and children, accompanied us outside of the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, 21:6 we said farewell to one another. Then we went aboard the ship, and they returned to their own homes. 21:7 We continued the voyage from Tyre and arrived at Ptolemais, and when we had greeted the brothers, we stayed with them for one day. 21:8 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 21:9 (He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.)
21:10 While we remained there for a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 21:11 He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it, and said, “The Holy Spirit says this: ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” 21:12 When we heard this, both we and the local people begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 21:13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 21:14 Because he could not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.”
21:15 After these days we got ready and started up to Jerusalem. 21:16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea came along with us too, and brought us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple from the earliest times, with whom we were to stay. 21:17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly. 21:18 The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were there.
21:19 When Paul had greeted them, he began to explain in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 21:20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all ardent observers of the law. 21:21 They have been informed about you — that you teach all the Jews now living among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. 21:22 What then should we do? They will no doubt hear that you have come. 21:23 So do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow; 21:24 take them and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself live in conformity with the law. 21:25 But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter, having decided that they should avoid meat that has been sacrificed to idols and blood and what has been strangled and sexual immorality.”
21:26 Then Paul took the men the next day, and after he had purified himself along with them, he went to the temple and gave notice of the completion of the days of purification, when the sacrifice would be offered for each of them. 21:27 When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from the province of Asia who had seen him in the temple area stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 21:28 shouting, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this sanctuary! Furthermore he has brought Greeks into the inner courts of the temple and made this holy place ritually unclean!” 21:29 (For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him previously, and they assumed Paul had brought him into the inner temple courts.) 21:30 The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple courts, and immediately the doors were shut.
21:31 While they were trying to kill him, a report was sent up to the commanding officer of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 21:32 He immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When they saw the commanding officer and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 21:33 Then the commanding officer came up and arrested him and ordered him to be tied up with two chains; he then asked who he was and what he had done. 21:34 But some in the crowd shouted one thing, and others something else, and when the commanding officer was unable to find out the truth because of the disturbance, he ordered Paul to be brought into the barracks.
21:35 When he came to the steps, Paul had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob, 21:36 for a crowd of people followed them, screaming, “Away with him!” 21:37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commanding officer, “May I say something to you?” The officer replied, “Do you know Greek? 21:38 Then you’re not that Egyptian who started a rebellion and led the four thousand men of the ‘Assassins’ into the wilderness some time ago?” 21:39 Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. Please allow me to speak to the people.”
21:40 When the commanding officer had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and gestured to the people with his hand. When they had become silent, he addressed them in Aramaic,
Lord, You call us to be faithful in an evil and rebellious fallen world, and so sometimes we will suffer for our faithful obedience. May I worry less about what may happen if I am faithful then what won't happen through me if I am not faithful.
Paul’s traveled from Miletus to Tyre on his journey to Jerusalem. In Tyre he met with the disciples for seven days during which the Spirit revealed to them the danger to Paul in Jerusalem and they encouraged him to not go. [Note: It is unclear in the text if the Holy Spirit was affirming earlier warnings to Paul, which he continued to ignore, or if He wanted the disciples to comprehend the risk Paul was taking for the cause of Christ.]
Paul journeyed on to Caesarea (Palestinian coast south of Mount Carmel) where stayed with one of the original seven Deacons from Jerusalem named Philip, and his four daughters. The Holy Spirit was delivering prophesies via Philip’s daughters. [Note: The author, Luke, makes an intentional point of the parenthetical note both that Philip’s daughters we single and that God was using them in an important ministry role. It is also notable to recall that most Biblical “prophesy” was the re-telling of what God had done and only a small fraction was fore-telling of things to come. The text does not record any prophesy; that they prophesied appears to have been the purpose of their mention.]
Agabus, a prophet from Jerusalem [also mentioned in Acts 11:28], came to Caesarea and tied Paul’s hands and feet with Paul’s belt then prophesied that the same would happen to him in Jerusalem. Luke and the others pleaded with Paul, weeping as they did so, not to travel to Jerusalem but Paul was undeterred so they entrusted the matter to God.
Paul continued on to Jerusalem where he was warned of the rumors that he had taught Jews to abandon their law-keeping customs and even brought Gentiles into the inner courts of the Temple [presumed to be for Jews only]. They started a riot and Paul was attacked. The commanding officer of the cohort hear of the disturbance and stopped it.
He arrested Paul then had to remove him to the barracks so hysterical had the mob become. There Paul noted his citizenry of Tarsus and requested permission to address the crowd. He addressed them in their local dialect of Aramaic.
The Lord God used the Romans to rescue Paul and then to require the people to listen to him.
Isn’t it amazing that despite the danger to Paul and others - which they courageously ignored - how they were persuaded in their minds that the calling of Christ was worthy of any price?
Philip’s unmarried daughters were empowered by the Lord God to prophesy, actualizing His teaching that there was no hierarchy "male or female, Greek or Hebrew" in God's value system.
When have you been aware of someone who was faithful to the Lord in sharing His truth and suffered a violent reaction — physical or social — yet they persevered?
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you increased-courage to serve the Lord God.
Today I will share a word of encouragement with a woman whose calling is blocked by man.
Paul’s Defense
22:1 “Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense that I now make to you.” 22:2 (When they heard that he was addressing them in Aramaic, they became even quieter.) Then Paul said, 22:3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated with strictness under Gamaliel according to the law of our ancestors, and was zealous for God just as all of you are today. 22:4 I persecuted this Way even to the point of death, tying up both men and women and putting them in prison, 22:5 as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to make arrests there and bring the prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
22:6 As I was en route and near Damascus, about noon a very bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. 22:7 Then I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 22:8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ 22:9 Those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me.
22:10 So I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told about everything that you have been designated to do.’ 22:11 Since I could not see because of the brilliance of that light, I came to Damascus led by the hand of those who were with me.
22:12 A man named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who live there, 22:13 came to me and stood beside me and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight!’ And at that very moment I looked up and saw him. 22:14 Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has already chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear a command from his mouth, 22:15 because you will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 22:16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.’
22:17 When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 22:18 and saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 22:19 I replied, ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat those in the various synagogues who believed in you. 22:20 And when the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I myself was standing nearby, approving, and guarding the cloaks of those who were killing him.’
22:21 Then he said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
The Roman Commander Questions Paul
22:22 The crowd was listening to him until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Away with this man from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live!” 22:23 While they were screaming and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust in the air,
22:24 the commanding officer ordered Paul to be brought back into the barracks. He told them to interrogate Paul by beating him with a lash so that he could find out the reason the crowd was shouting at Paul in this way. 22:25 When they had stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing nearby, “Is it legal for you to lash a man who is a Roman citizen without a proper trial?”
22:26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commanding officer and reported it, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” 22:27 So the commanding officer came and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” He replied, “Yes.” 22:28 The commanding officer answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” “But I was even born a citizen,” Paul replied. 22:29 Then those who were about to interrogate him stayed away from him, and the commanding officer was frightened when he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had had him tied up.
Paul Before the Sanhedrin
22:30 The next day, because the commanding officer wanted to know the true reason Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole council to assemble. He then brought Paul down and had him stand before them.
Lord, the apostle Paul confronted the people with Your truth and they hated him for it. May I remember that Jesus warned His followers that those who rejected Him would also reject us as His messengers.
Paul’s defense began with a presentation of his mentoring and performance as a member of the religious leaders and their most aggressive persecutors of Christians.
He then shared the story of Jesus confronting him on the road to Damascus and how another man, respected by Jews-of-the-law, named Ananias delivered God’s healing of his sight and led him to be baptized.
Paul continued to share, noting that God spoke to him in the Temple, saying “get out of Jerusalem ... because they will not accept your testimony about Me.”
Paul protested to God that the Jews in Jerusalem knew of his zealotry against the Christians, even approving the murder of Stephen, but God declared that He was sending Paul to the Gentiles.
When Paul mentioned outreach to Gentiles the crowd burst into hysteria and Paul was returned to the barracks.
[Note: The Jews had been deceived by the religious leaders into believing that despite the clear Word of God they remained His unique people - to share God with Gentiles was considered the worst sort of betrayal to such a self-important people.]
The Roman commander ordered Paul lashed to force him to explain why the people were so angry. Paul informed them that he was born a Roman citizen and thus it was a crime against Rome to punish him without a trial. The next morning the commander brought him before the Sanhedrin.
As long as he did not stray from the "brainwashed" narrative the religious leaders had imposed upon their followers they were silent but the moment Paul crossed the socio-religious line of outreach to the Gentiles they reacted with a mindless corporate rage.
Does it trouble you that the Roman commander was more-reasoned than the Jews?
The people seemed OK with Jesus as long as His message was directed only to Jews.
When have you observed the same sort of blind emotional reaction, against certain culturally-uncomfortable truths, by people within the family of those who associate themselves with the name of Christ?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to me an individual, a ministry, or a gathering of believers among a certain people-group who are oppressed for their faith and/or hindered in sharing Christ freely.
Today I will pray for a quick harvest of those who remain open to the truth as the enemies of truth multiply, seize power, and move to silence those who would preach and teach Christ.
I will pray specifically for the individual, ministry, or gathering of believers whom the Holy Spirit has revealed to me. [This latter population may be in China or Vietnam, most of the middle east, and increasingly (though less visible) in the west as well.]
23:1 Paul looked directly at the council and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God to this day.” 23:2 At that the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 23:3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law you order me to be struck?” 23:4 Those standing near him said, “Do you dare insult God’s high priest?” 23:5 Paul replied, “I did not realize, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’”
23:6 Then when Paul noticed that part of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, he shouted out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead!” 23:7 When he said this, an argument began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 23:8 (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) 23:9 There was a great commotion, and some experts in the law from the party of the Pharisees stood up and protested strongly, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 23:10 When the argument became so great the commanding officer feared that they would tear Paul to pieces, he ordered the detachment to go down, take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.
23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Have courage, for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
The Plot to Kill Paul
23:12 When morning came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul. 23:13 There were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy. 23:14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to partake of anything until we have killed Paul. 23:15 So now you and the council request the commanding officer to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine his case by conducting a more thorough inquiry. We are ready to kill him before he comes near this place.”
23:16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush, he came and entered the barracks and told Paul. 23:17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to report to him.” 23:18 So the centurion took him and brought him to the commanding officer and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” 23:19 The commanding officer took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, “What is it that you want to report to me?” 23:20 He replied, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire more thoroughly about him. 23:21 So do not let them persuade you to do this, because more than forty of them are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him, and now they are ready, waiting for you to agree to their request.” 23:22 Then the commanding officer sent the young man away, directing him, “Tell no one that you have reported these things to me.” 23:23 Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, “Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea along with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen by nine o’clock tonight, 23:24 and provide mounts for Paul to ride so that he may be brought safely to Felix the governor.” 23:25 He wrote a letter that went like this:
23:26 Claudius Lysias to His Excellency Governor Felix, greetings. 23:27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, when I came up with the detachment and rescued him, because I had learned that he was a Roman citizen. 23:28 Since I wanted to know what charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down to their council. 23:29 I found he was accused with reference to controversial questions about their law, but no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment. 23:30 When I was informed there would be a plot against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their charges against him before you.
23:31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him to Antipatris during the night. 23:32 The next day they let the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to the barracks. 23:33 When the horsemen came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 23:34 When the governor had read the letter, he asked what province he was from. When he learned that he was from Cilicia, 23:35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive too.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.
Lord, You exposed the false teachers for the apostates that they were, and You protected Paul via the secular Roman authorities so that he could be Your instrument in Rome. May I rest in the truth that You preserve that which is necessary to Your great and perfect plan.
When Paul declared a clear conscience before God the high priest Ananias [a common name] ordered those near Paul to strike him [because he had preached Christ and had done so to the Gentiles, therefore they thought him a liar and now a heretic]. Paul chastised them for violating the law, they replied that to say so insulted the high priest, and Paul apologized as he had not known that Ananias was “ruler of the people”. [Note: The leadership rotated because of the distrust and competition among the religious leaders; Paul had been away for several years and had lost touch with the powers-that-be.
Also, Paul referred to Exodus 22:28, which forbade disrespect for God or the leader of His chosen people. Paul was not respecting the apostate who held the office but the office itself - he would continue to call upon them all to turn away from their false teaching as had Jesus before him.]
Paul then played the Pharisees against the Sadducees on the matter of resurrection, on which he knew that they strongly disagreed, and the argument became so heated that the commander removed Paul again to the barracks. The night the Lord encouraged him that he would share the same testimony in Rome.
Some among the religious leaders plotted to kill Paul but his nephew heard of it and informed him, and he sent him to the commander who transferred him under heavy guard to the Roman Governor of the region, Felix, in Caesarea. Based on the letter from the commander in Jerusalem Felix had Paul confined and guarded in Herod’s palace until the religious leaders could arrive to present their charges against him.
One must carefully separate respect for an office from an endorsement of a person or a policy. While the Bible teaches us to pay our taxes, to obey and respect secular and religious authority (so long as they do not demand that we disobey God), and to pray for our leaders it nowhere asks Christians to be silent about sin.
Why would the Romans care if the Jews killed Paul?
Paul’s history was of a zealous commitment to the truth, as he knew it at the time, first as a zealous “Pharisee of Pharisees” (as he put it) then sold-out to Christ when the blinders of tradition were removed.
When have you observed people with power attempting to silence someone who was attemtping to expose the truth?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a secular or Christian leader for whom He wants you to pray that they listen to God.
Today I will search my own Christian walk for the kind of zealous commitment to Christ that empowered Paul to be so bold.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Acts” — prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in December of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The Accusations Against Paul
24:1 After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought formal charges against Paul to the governor. 24:2 When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time of peace through your rule, and reforms are being made in this nation through your foresight. 24:3 Most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this everywhere and in every way with all gratitude. 24:4 But so that I may not delay you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. 24:5 For we have found this man to be a troublemaker, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 24:6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him. 24:7 [[EMPTY]] 24:8 When you examine him yourself, you will be able to learn from him about all these things we are accusing him of doing.” 24:9 The Jews also joined in the verbal attack, claiming that these things were true.
Paul’s Defense Before Felix
24:10 When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense. 24:11 As you can verify for yourself, not more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 24:12 They did not find me arguing with anyone or stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout the city, 24:13 nor can they prove to you the things they are accusing me of doing. 24:14 But I confess this to you, that I worship the God of our ancestors according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law and that is written in the prophets. 24:15 I have a hope in God (a hope that these men themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. 24:16 This is the reason I do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and toward people. 24:17 After several years I came to bring to my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings, 24:18 which I was doing when they found me in the temple, ritually purified, without a crowd or a disturbance. 24:19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia who should be here before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me. 24:20 Or these men here should tell what crime they found me guilty of when I stood before the council, 24:21 other than this one thing I shouted out while I stood before them: ‘I am on trial before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.’”
24:22 Then Felix, who understood the facts concerning the Way more accurately, adjourned their hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commanding officer comes down, I will decide your case.” 24:23 He ordered the centurion to guard Paul, but to let him have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from meeting his needs.
Lord, Your servant Paul was accused by the same type of apostate and dishonorable religious leaders as was out Lord Jesus, but it was not yet time for him to die — so he was protected by a corrupt but self-interested governor of Rome. May I be assured that as long as You choose to use me as Your instrument no power one heaven or earth may for long block my path or take my life.
Accusations are brought by the religious leaders against Paul, primarily formulated by their attorney, Tertullus.
Paul, in his defense before Felix, noted that falsehoods in the accusations and the ease with which they could be proven so. Felix was more familiar with Christianity than the religious leaders knew and was therefore unpersuaded.
Felix has Paul confined as he delayed his decision for the arrival of “Lysias the commanding officer”. Felix allows Paul’s associates to visit and to bring him things.
The same sort of unethical men, enemies of the truth, attacked the servants of Jesus just as they had attacked Him.
How could these religious leaders continue to doubt Jesus after all of the proofs of the Old Testament prophesies about Jesus and all of the miracles through Him and His followers?
The better-informed that people become about true Biblical Christianity the less prone they are to believe lies, this is true for the person next door and the person in power (religious or secular).
When have you observed a consistent Biblical-Christian being trusted as truthful because of the witness of their life?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a misunderstanding, by a Christian or a non-Christian, of Biblical Christianity.
Today I will correct a misunderstanding about Biblical Christianity, perhaps in a conversation with a friend, perhaps online, perhaps in a letter-to-the editor. I will be polite, respectful, avoid the use of insider-religious terminology, and I will avoid being emotionally-argumentative but will stick to the facts.
Paul Speaks Repeatedly to Felix
24:24 Some days later, when Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 24:25 While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.” 24:26 At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would give him money, and for this reason he sent for Paul as often as possible and talked with him. 24:27 After two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix, and because he wanted to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
Paul Appeals to Caesar
25:1 Now three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 25:2 So the chief priests and the most prominent men of the Jews brought formal charges against Paul to him. 25:3 Requesting him to do them a favor against Paul, they urged Festus to summon him to Jerusalem, planning an ambush to kill him along the way. 25:4 Then Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and he himself intended to go there shortly. 25:5 “So,” he said, “let your leaders go down there with me, and if this man has done anything wrong, they may bring charges against him.”
25:6 After Festus had stayed not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered Paul to be brought. 25:7 When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they were not able to prove. 25:8 Paul said in his defense, “I have committed no offense against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” 25:9 But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried before me there on these charges?” 25:10 Paul replied, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I should be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well. 25:11 If then I am in the wrong and have done anything that deserves death, I am not trying to escape dying, but if not one of their charges against me is true, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” 25:12 Then, after conferring with his council, Festus replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go!”
Lord, You used the foolishness and hatefulness of the Jewish religious leaders and the Roman political leaders to bring Paul into places where he would not otherwise be allowed to preach Christ. May I not fear speaking honestly when asked the reason for my hope because I am sure that You have opened that opportunity and allowed me to be Your instrument.
Felix allowed Paul to visit him while he was his prisoner, hoping for a bribe, but Paul used those opportunities to evangelize Felix and those around him.
The religious leaders appeal to Festus to move Paul to Jerusalem, with a secret plan to ambush and murder him. Festus instructs them to present their charges at Caesarea - where Paul is and he is headed.
In Caesarea Paul again states his innocence and reminds Festus that he knows he is innocent. Festus wants to curry favor with the religious leader and asks Paul to return to Jerusalem - at which point Paul appeals to Caesar - guaranteeing he will be brought to Rome, as God prophesied - providing an opportunity to preach Christ there and also making his death probable.
That Paul used every possible opportunity to evangelize, even the misguided motives of the man who kept him jailed.
Isn’t it amazing how the political process ground continuously forward, the players unaware of the greater spiritual battle raging all round them; the rules and traditions of man forcing them to act without caring or knowing what were the consequences?
Contemplate the sacrificial commitment of Paul to the mission of evangelism.
When have you observed political and religious authorities, both with their own personal agendas, thrashing about as the Lord God caused His purpose to be completed?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you faithful men and women of Christ for whom He wants you to pray.
Today I will pray for protection for faithful men and women of Christ from evil schemers, agents of the enemy, intentionally or unintentionally so; in particular someone I know who is under apparent attack from the enemy. I will also pray for the wisdom to understand the realities of the way that the world, apart from Christ, functions; to interact wisely and to not underestimate the impact of ignorance, greed, and evil.
Festus Asks King Agrippa for Advice
25:13 After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
25:14 While they were staying there many days, Festus explained Paul’s case to the king to get his opinion, saying, “There is a man left here as a prisoner by Felix. 25:15 When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.
25:16 I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had met his accusers face to face and had been given an opportunity to make a defense against the accusation. 25:17 So after they came back here with me, I did not postpone the case, but the next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered the man to be brought.
25:18 When his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the evil deeds I had suspected. 25:19 Rather they had several points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a man named Jesus who was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive.
25:20 Because I was at a loss how I could investigate these matters, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.
25:21 But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar.” 25:22 Agrippa said to Festus, “I would also like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he replied, “you will hear him.”
Paul Before King Agrippa and Bernice
25:23 So the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience hall, along with the senior military officers and the prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the order, Paul was brought in. 25:24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all you who are present here with us, you see this man about whom the entire Jewish populace petitioned me both in Jerusalem and here, shouting loudly that he ought not to live any longer.
25:25 But I found that he had done nothing that deserved death, and when he appealed to His Majesty the Emperor, I decided to send him. 25:26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this preliminary hearing I may have something to write. 25:27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without clearly indicating the charges against him.”
Lord, You preserved the life of Paul, despite the efforts of the religious leaders to murder him. Your purpose to create an opportunity for him to tell Your story before increasingly higher-levels of Roman a officials and the members of their court. May I hold-tight to Your promise to provide for me a future (a purpose) and a hope (heaven) as I serve You with courage.
Festus sought advice from King Agrippa as to the matter of Paul, who was transferred to his care and judgment when he assumed power following Felix.
King Agrippa heard Festus' report that the religious leaders failed to bring any charges that he felt equipped to evaluate so he asked Paul if he would return to Jerusalem for that purpose — at which time Paul appealed to Caesar — the right of any Roman citizen.
Agrippa decided that he wanted to hear from Paul.
Paul appeared before King Agrippa, Bernice, and many of power and society in Caesarea. Festus introduced Paul as a sort of celebrity, explaining that he did not know how to explain to Caesar the reason for sending Paul to him since there were no legitimate charges.
It was Biblically-wrong of the religious leaders to bring Paul before secular authorities.
Why would Festus concern himself with the quality of the charges against Paul when he passed him on to Caesar?
Festus’s understanding of Paul and Jesus was so shallow that he merely thought of him as a celebrity whose fame had turned to infamy.
When have you observed a Christian wrongfully bringing a fellow Christian before secular authorities when they should have first tried to find a solution within the Christian family?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a conflict among Christians that needs to be kept out of the secular court system.
Today I will pray for peace and wisdom as two Christians who are at-odds choose Christian conciliation over secular courtroom warfare.
Paul Offers His Defense
26:1 So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul held out his hand and began his defense:
26:2 “Regarding all the things I have been accused of by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today, 26:3 because you are especially familiar with all the customs and controversial issues of the Jews. Therefore I ask you to listen to me patiently.
26:4 Now all the Jews know the way I lived from my youth, spending my life from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. 26:5 They know, because they have known me from time past, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee.
26:6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors, 26:7 a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve God night and day. Concerning this hope the Jews are accusing me, Your Majesty! 26:8 Why do you people think it is unbelievable that God raises the dead?
26:9 Of course, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus the Nazarene. 26:10 And that is what I did in Jerusalem: Not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons by the authority I received from the chief priests, but I also cast my vote against them when they were sentenced to death. 26:11 I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to force them to blaspheme. Because I was so furiously enraged at them, I went to persecute them even in foreign cities.
26:12 “While doing this very thing, as I was going to Damascus with authority and complete power from the chief priests, 26:13 about noon along the road, Your Majesty, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining everywhere around me and those traveling with me.
26:14 When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are hurting yourself by kicking against the goads.’
26:15 So I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 26:16 But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason, to designate you in advance as a servant and witness to the things you have seen and to the things in which I will appear to you. 26:17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you 26:18 to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
26:19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 26:20 but I declared to those in Damascus first, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance.
26:21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courts and were trying to kill me.
26:22 I have experienced help from God to this day, and so I stand testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what the prophets and Moses said was going to happen: 26:23 that the Christ was to suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, to proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
26:24 As Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed loudly, “You have lost your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!” 26:25 But Paul replied, “I have not lost my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking true and rational words. 26:26 For the king knows about these things, and I am speaking freely to him, because I cannot believe that any of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner.
26:27 Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe.” 26:28 Agrippa said to Paul, “In such a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?”
26:29 Paul replied, “I pray to God that whether in a short or a long time not only you but also all those who are listening to me today could become such as I am, except for these chains.”
26:30 So the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them, 26:31 and as they were leaving they said to one another, “This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment.” 26:32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
Lord, You consistently prophesied of the coming of Jesus and the purpose of His ministry, and when You confronted Paul with that truth he immediately surrendered his legalism to Your grace. Paul risked his life to tell Your story. May I be bold in sharing You as well.
Paul offered his defense, noting that King Agrippa knew the culture and traditions of the Jews well. Paul began with his reputation as a “pharisee of pharisees. He then notes that all Jews look forward to “hope” based on the “promise” of God to send a redeemer.
He reviewed his experience with Jesus on the road to Damascus and the commission he was given by Jesus to preach both to Jews and to Gentiles.
Paul noted that he preached Christ as the fulfillment of the redeemer that Jews longed for and that he was being persecuted for that.
Festus exclaimed to Paul that he must have lost his mind, that his “great learning” has made him mad, but Paul replied that all was “true and rational”.
Paul then appealed to King Agrippa, affirming the awareness and knowledge of the King of both the prophets and the life of Christ, to which Agrippa protested that Paul was trying to convert him. Paul declared that such was his desire for all present.
Agrippa and Bernice and Festus departed, remarking that Paul could have been set free had he not appealed to Caesar.
If Paul had not had a teachable spirit when confronted by Jesus he would have been as useless as the other religious leaders.
Isn’t it amazing how simple was Paul's message? God promised a redeemer and He fulfilled His promise. The next step is up to us; accept or reject His terms for redemption.
It is very import that as many as possible have a true understanding of Biblical Christianity so that Christ is not misrepresented by cults and careless philosophers.
When have you observed someone of great learning exhibit the maturity to remain teachable — even in those things for which he was recognized as exceptionally-knowledgeable?
Ask the Holy Spirit for an opportunity to clarify Biblical truth for someone who is confused or misled, or encourage family or friends to join me in a new Bible study.
Today I will rehearse my explanation of the story of Christ with a fellow believer and share feedback as to how well it matches the powerfully-simple telling of the Apostle Paul.
Paul and Company Sail for Rome
27:1 When it was decided we would sail to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. 27:2 We went on board a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail to various ports along the coast of the province of Asia and put out to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. 27:3 The next day we put in at Sidon, and Julius, treating Paul kindly, allowed him to go to his friends so they could provide him with what he needed. 27:4 From there we put out to sea and sailed under the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 27:5 After we had sailed across the open sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we put in at Myra in Lycia. 27:6 There the centurion found a ship from Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. 27:7 We sailed slowly for many days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus. Because the wind prevented us from going any farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. 27:8 With difficulty we sailed along the coast of Crete and came to a place called Fair Havens that was near the town of Lasea.
Caught in a Violent Storm
27:9 Since considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because the fast was already over, Paul advised them, 27:10 “Men, I can see the voyage is going to end in disaster and great loss not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 27:11 But the centurion was more convinced by the captain and the ship’s owner than by what Paul said. 27:12 Because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there. They hoped that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. 27:13 When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought they could carry out their purpose, so they weighed anchor and sailed close along the coast of Crete. 27:14 Not long after this, a hurricane-force wind called the northeaster blew down from the island. 27:15 When the ship was caught in it and could not head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 27:16 As we ran under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able with difficulty to get the ship’s boat under control. 27:17 After the crew had hoisted it aboard, they used supports to undergird the ship. Fearing they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor, thus letting themselves be driven along. 27:18 The next day, because we were violently battered by the storm, they began throwing the cargo overboard, 27:19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s gear overboard with their own hands. 27:20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and a violent storm continued to batter us, we finally abandoned all hope of being saved.
27:21 Since many of them had no desire to eat, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not put out to sea from Crete, thus avoiding this damage and loss. 27:22 And now I advise you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only the ship will be lost. 27:23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve came to me 27:24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before Caesar, and God has graciously granted you the safety of all who are sailing with you.’ 27:25 Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be just as I have been told. 27:26 But we must run aground on some island.”
Lord, You blessed Paul's fellow travelers as a testimony to the truth of Paul's report about You. May I be faithful enough that You will choose to bless others in some small way through me.
Paul was transferred to a prison ship bound for Italy. After slow travel due to difficulties with the wind, and several planned stops -including one where the Centurion allowed Paul’s friends to meet his needs - they sailed on.
Paul warned them that due to the winter season they faced shipwreck but they continued on.
They found themselves in a violent storm and after struggling for many days gave up hope of survival. Paul reminded them that he had warned them, then he shared that an angel of God had promised him than none of them would be lost but the ship and cargo would.
As they were about to be shipwrecked Paul calls to them to eat for strength.
The Lord God protected Paul from murder, provided many ministry opportunities, told him he'd preach in Rome, and now protected him and his companions from harm on the way to Rome.
Isn’t it amazing how the Lord God either calms or manages storms as His great purposes require?
When all others have given up hope God assured Paul then Paul in turn assured them.
When have you observed a man of God being ignored, only to be the one people turn to when all else fails and they need a wise leader?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show me someone, or a group, that is sailing into an avoidable storm due to arrogance and/or ignorance.
Today I will pray for protection, for ministry opportunities, and to be used by God to bring eternal hope into the lives of the hopeless.
27:27 When the fourteenth night had come, while we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected they were approaching some land. 27:28 They took soundings and found the water was twenty fathoms deep; when they had sailed a little farther they took soundings again and found it was fifteen fathoms deep. 27:29 Because they were afraid that we would run aground on the rocky coast, they threw out four anchors from the stern and wished for day to appear.
27:30 Then when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and were lowering the ship’s boat into the sea, pretending that they were going to put out anchors from the bow, 27:31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” 27:32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it drift away.
27:33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have been in suspense and have gone without food; you have eaten nothing. 27:34 Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is important for your survival. For not one of you will lose a hair from his head.”
27:35 After he said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all, broke it, and began to eat. 27:36 So all of them were encouraged and took food themselves. 27:37 (We were in all two hundred seventy-six persons on the ship.) 27:38 When they had eaten enough to be satisfied, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea.
Paul is Shipwrecked
27:39 When day came, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 27:40 So they slipped the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the linkage that bound the steering oars together. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and steered toward the beach. 27:41 But they encountered a patch of crosscurrents and ran the ship aground; the bow stuck fast and could not be moved, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves. 27:42 Now the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners so that none of them would escape by swimming away. 27:43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul’s life, prevented them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land, 27:44 and the rest were to follow, some on planks and some on pieces of the ship. And in this way all were brought safely to land.
Paul on Malta
28:1 After we had safely reached shore, we learned that the island was called Malta. 28:2 The local inhabitants showed us extraordinary kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain and was cold.
28:3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.
28:4 When the local people saw the creature hanging from Paul’s hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself has not allowed him to live!”
28:5 However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 28:6 But they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
28:7 Now in the region around that place were fields belonging to the chief official of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests for three days. 28:8 The father of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and after praying, placed his hands on him and healed him.
28:9 After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick also came and were healed.
28:10 They also bestowed many honors, and when we were preparing to sail, they gave us all the supplies we needed.
Lord, the enemy attacked Paul via a snake (You said that a serpent would attack the Savior, and a serpent was the form the deceiver took when leading Adam & Eve astray) but the superstitious people of Malta thought it was a judgment of his sin. You turned the enemy's attack upon Paul to good. When I am attacked because of my faithfulness to You, may I trust that You will use your overcoming of the attack as a testimony of His presence and power in you.
Paul warned the captain that everyone had to remain on the ship or none would be saved, and so the sailors who had schemed to sneak away in a small boat were stopped.
Paul encouraged them all to eat as it had been a long time in-crisis then gave thanks to God, broke-bread, and ate before them - they ate as well then discarded the rest of the wheat to lighten the ship. They grounded the ship in shallow water because the storm still threatened. They were successful and, as Paul had prophesied, all were safe.
The shipwrecked crew, including Paul, discovered that they had landed on the Island of Malta. The citizens there were friendly.
Paul was bitten by a viper and suddenly their superstition labeled him a murderer - but when he was not harmed they imagined him a god.
The Holy Spirit used Paul as His vessel of healing for the father of the chief official of the Island as well as many others. [Note: The text does not record Paul as having the opportunity to preach Christ, though he undoubtedly shared Christ with everyone he met, nor does it record any who accepted Christ at the time. It could be that the Holy Spirit used Paul to plant seeds for a future harvest there.]
Because of Paul's faithfulness to Christ the people were blessed by the Lord God and they sent he and his fellow travelers away with many gifts and supplies.
Paul, despite being a prisoner, became a major leader on the ship and on the island.
Isn’t it interesting that Paul was faithful as a vessel of God in healing and sharing on Malta despite the persistent confused-thinking of the people? Might one conclude that the Lord God discerned that they had teachable spirits and the Holy Spirit had prepared them to listen?
Does this seem to be yet another case where pagans attempted to impose their views upon God's work, first the superstition that one bitten by a viper must be an unpunished murderer (interestingly that was true about Paul), and then that he must be a "god" since the viper had no effect on him?
When have you observed a person in ministry first resisted then received?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any place where any pagan value system may affect you.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me to discern any place in my life where a pagan value system has gained foothold unnoticed and the strength and wisdom to excise it.
Paul Finally Reaches Rome
28:11 After three months we put out to sea in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the “Heavenly Twins” as its figurehead. 28:12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days.
28:13 From there we cast off and arrived at Rhegium, and after one day a south wind sprang up and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 28:14 There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome.
28:15 The brothers from there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. When he saw them, Paul thanked God and took courage.
28:16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
Paul Addresses the Jewish Community in Rome
28:17 After three days Paul called the local Jewish leaders together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, from Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. 28:18 When they had heard my case, they wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.
28:19 But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar — not that I had some charge to bring against my own people. 28:20 So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.”
28:21 They replied, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there and reported or said anything bad about you. 28:22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know that people everywhere speak against it.”
28:23 They set a day to meet with him, and they came to him where he was staying in even greater numbers. From morning until evening he explained things to them, testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets.
28:24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. 28:25 So they began to leave, unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah 28:26 when he said,
‘Go to this people and say,“You will keep on hearing, but will never understand,and you will keep on looking, but will never perceive.
28:27 For the heart of this people has become dull,and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.”’
28:28 “Therefore be advised that this salvation from God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!”
28:29 [[EMPTY]]
28:30 Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him, 28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction.
Lord, You enabled Paul to survive murderous plots in order that he might be Your instrument to preach Christ in Rome. He did so and some received Your truth while others rejected it. May I be faithful, no matter the resistance, and know that I am in partnership with Your Holy Spirit and that the harvest is Yours.
After many months of travel Paul reached Rome, met some brothers-in-Christ, and was allowed to reside outside of prison with his guard.
Paul addressed the Jewish leaders in Rome, explaining the false charges in Caesarea and Jerusalem and his need to appeal to Caesar to avoid their efforts to murder him. The locals replied that they had received no letters or visitors carrying any charges against Paul. They did note that there was a general negativity against Christianity and wanted to hear about it first-hand from Paul.
Paul preached Christ to the religious leaders and their followers, some believed but many refused, at which time Paul declared that he would also share Christ with the Gentiles because they were more likely to listen.
Paul preached and taught anyone who would listen, Jew or Gentile in Rome, for two years.
According to the NET Translator’s Notes verse 28:29 is omitted in many modern translations as better scholarship has determined that it has a high probability of being a scribal addition rather than of the earliest antique sources.
No matter how he tried the enemy could not keep Paul from preaching in Rome.
Why were the Gentiles more receptive than the Jews?
Paul always started with the Jews by declaring his history of felicity to Jewish law and his service as a zealous religious leader, then he reminded them of the prophesies, and finally he showed them how it all led to Christ.
When have you been surprised at the unexpected receptivity of a person or group instead of those whom you expected to be receptive to Biblical truth?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a person of group you have ignored but who are ready to hear.
Today I will reach out to that person or group whom the Holy Spirit has revealed and I will share with them the message of Christ.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Acts” — prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in December of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections With a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
The Apostle Paul is the author of the Book of Romans. The overarching goal of Paul’s writing is to clarify several concepts critical to understanding the purpose of Christ’s mission on Earth; salvation-through-faith-alone, the value of righteous living in multiplying His family, and how it is that a sinner is redeemed-to-pre-Fall-purity to be able to stand before a perfect God.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Romans”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in October of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
1:1 From Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.
1:2 This gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 1:3 concerning his Son who was a descendant of David with reference to the flesh,
1:4 who was appointed the Son-of-God-in-power according to the Holy Spirit by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1:5 Through him we have received grace and our apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles on behalf of his name. 1:6 You also are among them, called to belong to Jesus Christ. 1:7 To all those loved by God in Rome, called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Paul’s Desire to Visit Rome
1:8 First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. 1:9 For God, whom I serve in my spirit by preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness that I continually remember you 1:10 and I always ask in my prayers, if perhaps now at last I may succeed in visiting you according to the will of God.
1:11 For I long to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, 1:12 that is, that we may be mutually comforted by one another’s faith, both yours and mine.
1:13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I often intended to come to you (and was prevented until now), so that I may have some fruit even among you, just as I already have among the rest of the Gentiles. 1:14 I am a debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 1:15 Thus I am eager also to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome.
Lord, Your ministry through Paul used his intellect to explain many complex concepts to believers of any background. May I humbly study Your truth, delivered through him, so that I may fully grasp Your discipleship for me.
In Paul’s Salutation he identified himself as a “bondservant” of Christ [Note: Meaning that he had given up everything in this world, surrendered his free will, and surrendered everything to the Lordship of Christ through the Holy Spirit.]
He reminded them that Christ was prophesied in the past and that He had fulfilled those prophesies “... Son-of-God-in-power according to the Holy Spirit by the resurrection from the dead”.
Paul noted also that his ministry (and that of the other apostles) was to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles so that they would be saved by “... the obedience of faith”.
Paul addressed his letter, Romans, to believers; those who “belong to Jesus Christ”, “those loved by God in Rome”, and are “called to be saints”, who had been gifted with more than salvation but to live “ultrafidian” [beyond faith] lives.
Paul celebrated the faithfulness of the Roman Church (believers) for their reputation as Christians and notes that the Holy Spirit had him praying for them. He also expressed his long desire to visit Rome and to preach Christ there. [Note: Romans is not chronologically sequential to ACTS as the final text of ACTS places Paul in Rome.]
Paul reminded them that Jesus the Christ had fulfilled all of the prophesies about the Messiah.
How do you understand Paul's phrase that the “saints” had been gifted with more than salvation but to live "ultrafidian" [beyond faith] lives?
<http://bibleseven.com/ultrafidian.html>
Paul described himself as a truly-saved believer— he had given up everything in this world, surrendered his free will, and surrendered everything to the Lordship of Christ through the Holy Spirit.
When have you given up something of the world because it interfered with your daily walk with Christ?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a way that you might live a more “ultrafidian”, beyond-faith, life.
Today I will pray for the strength and wisdom to set aside those things which prevent me from moving past salvation and safety to sacrifice and service.
The Power of the Gospel
1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
1:17 For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous by faith will live.”
The Condemnation of the Unrighteous
1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, 1:19 because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
1:20 For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.
1:21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened. 1:22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.
1:24 Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves. 1:25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
1:26 For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones, 1:27 and likewise the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed in their passions for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
1:28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done. 1:29 They are filled with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice. They are rife with envy, murder, strife, deceit, hostility. They are gossips, 1:30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, contrivers of all sorts of evil, disobedient to parents, 1:31 senseless, covenant-breakers, heartless, ruthless.
1:32 Although they fully know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them.
Lord, You clearly tell us what You have done for us, the Gospel, and why those who reject You are in trouble. May I be intentional in growing toward You and away from unrighteousness.
Paul then described the power of the Gospel
How?
The Lord God overcame the sin of the Fall in the Garden of Eden. He provided a way that we may be saved, He says that everyone who believes will be saved, He first offered salvation to the Jews, and then He offered it to everyone else (the “Gentiles”).
Does Paul’s description of “the power of the Gospel” describe your salvation experience?
Salvation is the result of a process, a series of God-ordained events; the righteousness of God is revealed, as one hears the Gospel, and it flows from the faith-response of the one being saved (one’s initial child-like trusting faith).
When have you observed the process of salvation unfolding in someones life?
Ask the Holy Spirit to you which of the elements of God’s “condemnation of the unrighteous” may be part of your life.
Today I will join with my prayer-partner to pray that I may quickly remove that which the Holy Spirit has revealed from my life. Permanently.
The Condemnation of the Moralist
2:1 Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge someone else. For on whatever grounds you judge another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge practice the same things. 2:2 Now we know that God’s judgment is in accordance with truth against those who practice such things. 2:3 And do you think, whoever you are, when you judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment? 2:4 Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed! 2:6 He will reward each one according to his works: 2:7 eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality, 2:8 but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness. 2:9 There will be affliction and distress on everyone who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek, 2:10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek. 2:11 For there is no partiality with God. 2:12 For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 2:13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous. 2:14 For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves. 2:15 They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them, 2:16 on the day when God will judge the secrets of human hearts, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.
The Condemnation of the Jew
2:17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relationship to God 2:18 and know his will and approve the superior things because you receive instruction from the law, 2:19 and if you are convinced that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 2:20 an educator of the senseless, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the essential features of knowledge and of the truth—2:21 therefore you who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 2:22 You who tell others not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 2:23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by transgressing the law! 2:24 For just as it is written, “the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
2:25 For circumcision has its value if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcised man obeys the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 2:27 And will not the physically uncircumcised man who keeps the law judge you who, despite the written code and circumcision, transgress the law? 2:28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something that is outward in the flesh, 2:29 but someone is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit and not by the written code. This person’s praise is not from people but from God.
Lord, You have blessed us with Your divine kindness, forbearance, and patience. May I share Your gifts with others, being kind, refrain from reacting to difficult people, and patient.
Paul described God's condemnation of the moralist, observing that all have fallen short of God’s righteousness so that all who judge and condemn others are judged and condemned by the same standard of righteousness. Only God is a sinless judge.
Paul provided a partial list of the unrighteous practices which condemn the moralist:
He observed that God’s kindness leads one to repentance [turning away from sin] and stubbornness and an unrepentant heart “stores up wrath” ... “in the day of wrath”.
In the day of wrath “God will reveal and reward each one according to his works”:
Paul reminded the Jews that nothing they do for righteousness under the law will compensate for hypocritical violations of the law.
Paul used the term “circumcision of the heart” to describe Jew and Gentile alike who have surrendered to the Holy Spirit and who have been permanently changed, marked for Christ.
The consequences of contempt for the wealth of God’s kindness, the wealth of God’s forbearance, or the wealth of God’s patience.
What is the difference between "judging", pretending to be God and to know the spirit—and imagining that one does so without sin of their own, and “discernment”, which is the recognition of sin in others without holding oneself as better than others?
Consider the imagery and practical application implied by Paul’s phrase “circumcision of the heart”.
When have you found someone unusually difficult to bear, wanted to react badly, but were restrained by the Holy Spirit within?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to me the difference between “judging” and “discerning” in my attitude toward others and one specific case where I practice more of a “judging” than a “discerning” attitude.
Today I will I will repent [turn away from] my non-Biblical “judging”, I will request and receive the Lord God's forgiveness, and then I will replace it as-is-appropriate with discernment.
3:1 Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision? 3:2 Actually, there are many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3:3 What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? 3:4 Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: “so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged.”
3:5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he? (I am speaking in human terms.) 3:6 Absolutely not! For otherwise how could God judge the world? 3:7 For if by my lie the truth of God enhances his glory, why am I still actually being judged as a sinner? 3:8 And why not say, “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”?—as some who slander us allege that we say. (Their condemnation is deserved!)
The Condemnation of the World
3:9 What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin, 3:10 just as it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one,
3:11 there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God.
3:12 All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.”
3:13 “Their throats are open graves, they deceive with their tongues, the poison of asps is under their lips.”
3:14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
3:15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood,
3:16 ruin and misery are in their paths,
3:17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
3:18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 3:20 For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
3:21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed—3:22 namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 3:24 But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
3:25 God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. 3:26 This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness.
3:27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith!
3:28 For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law.
3:29 Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too!
3:30 Since God is one, he will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
3:31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.
Lord, You made a way just as You promised in the Garden of Eden, and You also opened the door of opportunity Jew and Gentile, male and female, old and young. May I be forever grateful for what You have done.
Paul continued to challenge the Jews to understand that the failure of some Jews does not say anything about the righteousness of God Who entrusted them with “the oracles of God”; He is perfectly righteous and rebellion only defines the rebel.
Paul explained the condemnation of the fallen world, saying that the perfect law of God proves the imperfection of all before a perfect God. Through the faith of the believer God fulfills the law which requires absolute dependence upon God and nothing else.
All are convicted by the law.
All may be justified by the sacrifice of Christ.
Christ fulfilled the requirement of the law for a perfect and pure sacrifice.
Observe the Grand Canyon-like chasm between fallen and God, man defined by imperfection and willful rebellion, God defined by His perfection.
Isn’t it amazing that the Lord God's love conquered all, even death, and that He chooses to pursue us for an eternal relationship with Him?
How interesting to this perfect God Who provides a way through Christ for imperfect and rebellious man to accept His gift and to be restored to the original Edenic plan for eternal relationship.
When have you stopped and reflected and prayed about the amazing gift of love from God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an opportunity to take some time to truly celebrate the amazing gift of the Lord God.
Today I will join a fellow believer in a heartfelt celebration of thankfulness for God's loving provision of a path to redemption.
The Illustration of Justification
4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, has discovered regarding this matter? 4:2 For if Abraham was declared righteous by the works of the law, he has something to boast about—but not before God. 4:3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4:4 Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation. 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, his faith is credited as righteousness.
4:6 So even David himself speaks regarding the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
4:7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
4:8 blessed is the one against whom the Lord will never count sin.”
4:9 Is this blessedness then for the circumcision or also for the uncircumcision? For we say, “faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” 4:10 How then was it credited to him? Was he circumcised at the time, or not? No, he was not circumcised but uncircumcised! 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised, so that he would become the father of all those who believe but have never been circumcised, that they too could have righteousness credited to them. 4:12 And he is also the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham possessed when he was still uncircumcised.
4:13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 4:14 For if they become heirs by the law, faith is empty and the promise is nullified. 4:15 For the law brings wrath, because where there is no law there is no transgression either. 4:16 For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace, with the result that the promise may be certain to all the descendants—not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 4:17 (as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed—the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do. 4:18 Against hope Abraham believed in hope with the result that he became the father of many nations according to the pronouncement, “so will your descendants be.” 4:19 Without being weak in faith, he considered his own body as dead (because he was about one hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 4:20 He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. 4:21 He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do. 4:22 So indeed it was credited to Abraham as righteousness.
4:23 But the statement it was credited to him was not written only for Abraham’s sake, 4:24 but also for our sake, to whom it will be credited, those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 4:25 He was given over because of our transgressions and was raised for the sake of our justification.
Lord, You inspired David to observe that it would be a blessing for one who behaved in a “lawless” manner and who sinned to be the beneficiary of Your grace, rather than the law. May I remember that it is Your mercy that has allowed me to not suffer eternal punishment for lawlessness and sin and to therefore seek righteousness and avoid lawlessness and sin.
Abraham was saved by faith, if he were saved by works God would have an obligation to him for having completed some sort of righteousness-earning task, but it was purely grace in return for his belief in God.
David noted that the Lord blesses by removing the eternal conviction-of-death-from-sin and Paul reminded the reader that this has nothing to do with religious ritual like circumcision since David was referring to Abraham and he was saved-by-faith before he was circumcised.
Paul also reminded that Abraham was promised that he would be the “father of many nations” while he and Sarah were still childless and he was elderly—indicating that everything involved with salvation would be unrelated to works, ritual, or any single nationality.
He concluded that saving-faith was for “... those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was given over because of our transgressions and was raised for the sake of our justification.”
What a tragedy that man's distortions of God's word had led to such a heresy as to believe in any form of works-righteousness.
Isn’t freedom from works amazing? It does not come from membership in a man-made religious organization or nationality or race or gender. It liberates a person to simply love God and to receive His blessing and gifts and mission for life, undistorted by imperfect humans.
Freedom comes from understanding that salvation is through faith-alone and not works.
When have you experienced or observed confusion as to saved-by-faith-not-works versus saved-by-faith-plus-works?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any moments in your life where you doubt your salvation and that I turn to any form of works-righteousness to try to justify myself before God.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement to purge the lie of doubt and/or works-righteousness from my life so that I may trust and worship God-alone.
The Expectation of Justification
5:1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:2 through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory.
5:3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 5:4 and endurance, character, and character, hope.
5:5 And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
5:6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
5:7 (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.)
5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
5:9 Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by his blood, we will be saved through him from God’s wrath.
5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life?
5:11 Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.
The Amplification of Justification
5:12 So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people because all sinned—5:13 for before the law was given, sin was in the world, but there is no accounting for sin when there is no law. 5:14 Yet death reigned from Adam until Moses even over those who did not sin in the same way that Adam (who is a type of the coming one) transgressed.
5:15 But the gracious gift is not like the transgression. For if the many died through the transgression of the one man, how much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man Jesus Christ multiply to the many!
5:16 And the gift is not like the one who sinned. For judgment, resulting from the one transgression, led to condemnation, but the gracious gift from the many failures led to justification.
5:17 For if, by the transgression of the one man, death reigned through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ!
5:18 Consequently, just as condemnation for all people came through one transgression, so too through the one righteous act came righteousness leading to life for all people.
5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man many will be made righteous.
5:20 Now the law came in so that the transgression may increase, but where sin increased, grace multiplied all the more, 5:21 so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Lord, You provided the Law so that humankind could see why there was a breach in our relationship with You and what it was costing us, so that we then could recognize why it was such an amazing miracle when You sacrificed to make salvation- powered-righteousness available to us. May I recognize that Your grace is already sufficient for every transgression, that every new transgression only testifies to the magnitude of Your Grace, and that righteousness rather than transgression is the best statement of gratitude.
Paul explained that our expectation of justification is because through faith Jesus became our advocate so that at the Final Judgment the Enemy accuses and Jesus speaks up for us—declaring our justification for perfection because He “did our time”.
Paul also explained the power and purpose of the knowledge of our salvation:
Paul also addressed the amplification of justification, how how the sin of Adam spread to all of his descendants, and the grace from the sacrifice of Jesus multiplies back to believers beyond mere life but into eternity.
There is a long list of reasons that God should never allow you into His perfect and forever sin-free Heaven. Contemplate how great is the love that set you free of that.
How does understanding the power and purpose of the knowledge of our salvation give us something of value to which to we may cling when the challenges of life in a fallen world bring suffering?
There is an important contrast between the Enemy and Jesus. The Enemy is Prince of this world (because of the Fall of Adam and Eve) and it will last for only a little while. His kingdom is also imperfect and temporary. The kingdom of Jesus is perfect and will be eternal, because He made it possible though His own grace and power.
When have you felt overwhelmed by the world for a time and it was only your assurance of salvation that gave you the strength to remain hopeful and to make it through?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to me any lie that may rest in a confused place in my heart that anything I have ever done, or that has been done to me, can ever overwhelm the God of all Creation—when He says I am free and I am promised Heaven.
Today I will share Paul's stages for understanding the power and purpose of the knowledge of our salvation with someone who is struggling with suffering and together we will pray for hope.
The Believer’s Freedom from Sin’s Domination
6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to remain in sin so that grace may increase?
6:2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
6:3 Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
6:4 Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.
6:5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.
6:6 We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 6:7 (For someone who has died has been freed from sin.)
6:8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
6:9 We know that since Christ has been raised from the dead, he is never going to die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
6:10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God.
6:11 So you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires, 6:13 and do not present your members to sin as instruments to be used for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and your members to God as instruments to be used for righteousness.
6:14 For sin will have no mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace.
The Believer’s Enslavement to God’s Righteousness
6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not!
6:16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness?
6:17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were entrusted to, 6:18 and having been freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
6:19 (I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness.
6:21 So what benefit did you then reap from those things that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death.
6:22 But now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit leading to sanctification, and the end is eternal life.
6:23 For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Lord, You made the way for our salvation, setting us free from the slavery of sin, liberating us into a freely-chosen slavery to righteousness. May I not allow my still-fallen flesh to pollute my eternally-saved spirit of righteousness.
Paul reflected back on Romans 5 long enough to remind us that the grace of Jesus covers sins of all kinds.
He trusted us to remember the teaching of Solomon that there is “nothing new under the sun”, therefore, once-saved no sin we commit now is “new” to the entirety o sin for which Jesus the Christ died and therefore it cannot add anything to the grace-over-sin completed work of Christ Jesus.
The unsaved person not only cannot without-Christ overcome the power of sin which controls their lives, they also cannot without-Christ overcome the power of sin to control their eternity, they must accept His gift in order to be free.
Paul explained that the believer has freedom from sin’s domination, but he or she must recognize and then act upon that freedom—pressing away the things of this temporary world which try to drag us down—choosing instead to stay on the path toward ever-increasing righteousness.
The believer’s enslavement to God’s righteousness replaces their prior-to-salvation slavery to sin.
The believer has not only the power, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, to resist sin—they have an implicit obligation to partner with the Holy Spirit to resist sin.
Paul's challenge was “... do not present your members to sin as instruments to be used for unrighteousness … now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.”
What are some ways that you were enslaved by sin prior to salvation?
There are many ways that the power of your salvation has set you free from the power of sin.
When have you observed the external evidence of freedom-from-sin in the life of a new believer?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you at least one area of your life where you need to surrender more to His Lordship so that you may pursue righteousness rather than allow your still-fallen flesh to drag you into sin.
Today I will thank Jesus for setting me free. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me as I partner with God in breaking free in the flesh the same way that He set me free in my eternal spiritual self.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Romans”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in October of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The Believer’s Relationship to the Law
7:1 Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is lord over a person as long as he lives?
7:2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage.
7:3 So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she is joined to another man, she is not an adulteress.
7:4 So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God.
7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.
7:6 But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code.
7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! Certainly, I would not have known sin except through the law. For indeed I would not have known what it means to desire something belonging to someone else if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”
7:8 But sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of wrong desires. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
7:9 And I was once alive apart from the law, but with the coming of the commandment sin became alive 7:10 and I died. So I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life brought death!
7:11 For sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it I died.
7:12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
7:13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Absolutely not! But sin, so that it would be shown to be sin, produced death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.
7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual—but I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin.
7:15 For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want—instead, I do what I hate.
7:16 But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good.
7:17 But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me.
7:18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it.
7:19 For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want!
7:20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me.
7:21 So, I find the law that when I want to do good, evil is present with me.
7:22 For I delight in the law of God in my inner being.
7:23 But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members.
7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
7:25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Lord, Your grace separates us from the deadly consequence of sin, yet You call us to a higher-standard—that of who we have become because of Whose we have become. May I honor Your grace with a life focused on You and not on my worldly flesh.
Since the Fall in the Garden of Eden all of Creation, most-relevant to this study—humankind—dwells apart from relationship with the Lord God. All is doomed to an imperfect and meaningless death, together with the “prince of the earth”, Satan. This is because nothing imperfect may enter Heaven and the presence of the perfectly-holy Lord God, because all imperfection is sin, and because everything apart from the Lord is worthless.
The law did not create sin, it defined it more-clearly and it made its commission an unavoidably volitional rather than a somewhat non-volitional act, as well as a volitional act that is intentionally rebellious because it breaches the clear boundaries set by the Lord God.
Paul explained that the Law sets boundaries in our temporary earthly existence; he used the example of a married person who is—according to the law—not allowed to abandon their spouse and to marry another while that spouse is alive, for they were bonded together for life.
He then noted that our salvation sets us free from the bond we have to sin so that we may become the family of Christ in emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual harmony.
[Note: It was not Paul’s intent to teach in any comprehensive way the Biblical approach to marriage, divorce, and remarriage here any more than Jesus was teaching about fishing or gardening when He used those as teaching illustrations. He did not intend to teach that only a woman is bound by that law, nor did he intend that one abandoned by a spouse who remarries is bound to remain single. He was simply using an available illustration—and as is true of all such illustrations when extrapolated too-far apart from the intended purpose—it fails.]
Paul continued to teach that because sin no longer controls us [in an eternal sense] the Law is no longer necessary to convict us of sin to preserve us for salvation; however, our temporary bodies remain enslaved to sin and the Law becomes a tool of the Holy Spirit to convict us of that sin so that we may partner with the Holy Spirit to press it away.
The Lord God brought clarity to the ancient and primitive Israelites, and to us, so that we may plainly know when we are doing that which offends Him.
What are some specific ways that the Law is used by the Holy Spirit to help us to discern when our temporary physical bodies are drifting into in, such as cheating, coveting, gossip, hatred, idolatry, jealousy, lying, stealing, etc?
The law made it impossible for any to pretend that the boundary between good and evil and right and wrong could not be readily known.
When have you been confronted with the challenge of worldly temptation and found the answer to where you must draw the line in the clear teaching of the law?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reminded you of the Lord God's Law "You shall not …" in some area where you are drifting into sin.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement with me as I press-away that fleshly desire in this world which is leading me away from righteousness as the law defines it.
The Believer’s Relationship to the Holy Spirit
8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
8:2 For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.
8:3 For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 8:4 so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
8:5 For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit.
8:6 For the outlook of the flesh is death, but the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace, 8:7 because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so. 8:8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him. 8:10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is your life because of righteousness. 8:11 Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you.
8:12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh 8:13 (for if you live according to the flesh, you will die), but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.
8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.”
8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children. 8:17 And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)—if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him.
8:18 For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us.
8:19 For the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God. 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly but because of God who subjected it—in hope 8:21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now.
8:23 Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
8:24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.
8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.
8:27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will.
8:28 And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, 8:29 because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
8:30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Lord, You made a way for us to be set free from the death of sin due to our fallen-flesh, You offered us this free gift, and when we accepted You indwelt us with Your Holy Spirit. May I be grateful beyond-measure for Your incredible gift and for Your indwelling assurance of my salvation.
Paul revisited his teaching that a believer’s freedom from eternal condemnation for sin was necessary because their flesh was imperfect and prone to sin.
He noted that at-salvation the Holy Spirit indwelt every believer such that no-one is saved unless they have the indwelling Holy Spirit.
[Note: This is why “... the baptism of John” was insufficient.]
Paul then described the believer’s relationship to the Holy Spirit; where we once were fear-controlled slaves to sin we became joy-filled adopted-children of the eternal family of God.
Paul listed several specific ways that we are blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit:
“... if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you.”
How do the elements of Paul’s list of the blessings of the indwelling Holy Spirit apply to your walk with God?
The Lord God's consistency begins with the law that flesh-based sin means death. Jesus took the consequences of all flesh-based sin to Himself then overcame it with grace so that when we surrender and join Him we receive His redemption and flesh-based sin cannot cause us eternal death. Those who do not have Christ, and the indwelling Holy Spirit as His down-payment on Heaven, are still accountable to the law—their flesh-based sin will bring them death. This consistency builds trust in the Lord God.
When have you found the courage to resist flesh-based sin in the assurance of your salvation by a loving and self-sacrificing Lord God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one way that He has impacted your life through one of the blessings of His presence as listed by Paul.
Today I will share the story and then celebrate in praise and worship what He has revealed to me—together with another believer.
8:31 What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
8:32 Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things?
8:33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
8:34 Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us.
8:35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
8:36 As it is written, “For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
8:37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!
8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Lord, You are the cause and the power that makes the gift of salvation possible, and once we belong to You we are yours forever. May I not be confused by the many extra-Biblical doctrines and rather cling to Your Word.
Paul reviewed God’s requirements for salvation and His power for righteous living:
[Note: Paul's purpose here is not to teach fatalism, that God predetermined who would be saved and not and then just timed their salvation with no regard for His commitment to free will, evidenced in the Garden, and repeated elsewhere. This is, instead, Paul reminding us that God's standards are high and His commitment to people of faith consistent. The One true God is never arbitrary or inconsistent.]
Once we, through volitional acceptance of the gift of Christ—and our submission to His Lordship that comes with it—belong to Him, there is no power on earth or in heaven that can separate us from Him.
The terms “elect” and “predestined” have been the source of great confusion and conflict but can you see where the Lord God says that the “elect” are those who accept the gift and are then transformed from the “non-elect” and once they are among the “elect” they are “predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus [righteousness] through the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit?
The victory of the believer is not over earthly enemies, it is not over worldly imperfections (e.g. disease, loss, troubles), but it is over death-itself. The focal purpose of salvation is on eternity and not our temporary existence here on earth.
When have you contemplated the change in you from before your intentional surrender to Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone who is confused about “elect” and “predestined”.
Today I will pray for the one to whom the Holy Spirit has directed me. I will respectfully offer to study these verses in Romans, and others in the B7-series, which clarify the matter of “elect”, “predestination”, and “free will” in a Biblically-consistent manner.
9:1 Israel’s Rejection Considered
I am telling the truth in Christ (I am not lying!), for my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit—9:2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed—cut off from Christ—for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen, 9:4 who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. 9:5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.
9:6 It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are truly Israel, 9:7 nor are all the children Abraham’s true descendants; rather “through Isaac will your descendants be counted.”
9:8 This means it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God; rather, the children of promise are counted as descendants.
9:9 For this is what the promise declared: “About a year from now I will return and Sarah will have a son.” 9:10 Not only that, but when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our ancestor Isaac—9:11 even before they were born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose in election would stand, not by works but by his calling)—9:12 it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger,” 9:13 just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
9:14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not!
9:15 For he says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
9:16 So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.
9:17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh: “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” 9:18 So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden.
9:19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who has ever resisted his will?”
9:20 But who indeed are you—a mere human being—to talk back to God? Does what is molded say to the molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 9:21 Has the potter no right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special use and another for ordinary use?
9:22 But what if God, willing to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction?
9:23 And what if he is willing to make known the wealth of his glory on the objects of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory—9:24 even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
9:25 As he also says in Hosea: “I will call those who were not my people, ‘My people,’ and I will call her who was unloved, ‘My beloved.’”
9:26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”
9:27 And Isaiah cries out on behalf of Israel, “Though the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved, 9:28 for the Lord will execute his sentence on the earth completely and quickly.”
9:29 Just as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of armies had not left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have resembled Gomorrah.”
Lord, You provided the law to the Israelites, the subset of humankind descended from Isaac. The law convicted them of sin and provided a ritual-covering for them but it was never possible for them to earn salvation in their fallen-flesh through works but only through faith—as had Abraham—prior to the law. May I be grateful to be free from the law, to be in-Christ through faith, and be found grateful through thankfulness and righteous living.
This section of Romans 9 describes the Lord God’s relationship with humankind under the law. the final few verses of Romans 9 (discussed in the next section of this Study) addresses the sovereignly-altered realationship under the grace of the Cross.
Paul explains God’s rejection of Israel, because God’s promise to God was not inclusive of all in the tribes of Israel but only a remnant—for faith not tribe—Jew and Gentile alike.
Israel’s repeated rejection of the God made both the nation and individuals culpable.
God chooses, based on the standard described in Romans 8, whom He will bless and whom He will not and no man or tribe may correct Him.
God testifies to His sovereignty from the enforcement of His holy decrees, mercy as He sees fit, hardening the already hard also as He sees fit, all according to His perfect plan.
Those who were born Israelites were blessed with a unique relationship with the Lord God, yet because of their generations of rebellion only a remnant was preserved, and their special earthly-relationship lost.
Isn’t it amazing how God's standard of a faithful-surrender to His Lordship has never changed?
The descendants of Israel have always shared access to a faith-based salvation with the “gentiles” but they lost sight of that due to their unique earthly relationship in the past.
When have you experienced or observed a person imagining that their membership in a unique job, religious organization, or social circle makes them more valuable to the Lord God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your fellowship, or one one elsewhere in your community (perhaps a cult of some sort) where some may be confusing membership and performance/works with salvation through faith-alone.
Today I will pray in-earnest for those who are confused, and if the Holy Spirit provides an opportunity, I will gently, patiently, and respectfully share with them the truth of salvation through faith-alone.
Israel’s Rejection Culpable
9:30 What shall we say then?—that the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness obtained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith, 9:31 but Israel even though pursuing a law of righteousness did not attain it.
9:32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but (as if it were possible) by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 9:33 just as it is written,
“Look, I am laying in Zion a stone that will cause people to stumble and a rock that will make them fall, yet the one who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
Lord, You gave the law to show the way to grace, and under grace the law serves to point the way to righteousness. May I be faithful, under grace, in the pursuit of righteousness.
Paul asked if the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness—via the law—still obtained it?
He also asked if Israel, who did (at least in theory) pursue righteousness—via the law—did not?
Paul explained that the difference that Israel attempted works-righteousness, salvation without faith, rather only by legalistic-works, whereas the Gentiles sought a faith-based salvation without pre-salvation works.
He further explained that Israel had become so invested in their legalism that it because a stumbling-block which distracted them from the faith that saved Abraham.
The Lord God wanted Israel to choose a saving-relationship with Him through faith-alone, but Israel was like those in the time of the Tower of Babel, they wanted to access the Lord God though their own “power”.
God's standard for salvation and righteous living reflects that which is necessary to set-apart those whose genuine surrender will make them sinless occupants of "the new heaven and new earth" to come.
The Lord God was consistent, from the Garden of Eden to Paul's time of teaching, restoration was always a matter of faith.
When did you first truly understand the meaning of salvation through faith-alone?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where a religious habit or ritual or tradition has displaced genuine relationship with the Lord God.
Today I will praise the Lord God for His consistency, sharing with another believer how that has built confidence in my relationship with Him and in my daily walk.
10:1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of my fellow Israelites is for their salvation.
10:2 For I can testify that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not in line with the truth.
10:3 For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
10:4 For Christ is the end of the law, with the result that there is righteousness for everyone who believes.
10:5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.”
10:6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 10:7 or “Who will descend into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
10:8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we preach), 10:9 because 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.
10:10 For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.
10:11 For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
10:12 For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him.
10:13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Lord, so many have been frustrated by works-righteousness, and as a result have been difficult to reach with Your message of grace. May I be faithful in praying for those who need you and in sharing Your message of grace.
Paul lamented that the Jews “... are zealous for God”.
He explained that they were zealous for a religion that ritually honored the name of the Lord God but not one that truly surrendered to Him as Lord of their lives.
Paul lamented that they failed to be zealous for “... the righteousness that comes from God” but were “... seeking instead their own righteousness”.
He explained that they were trapped in an idolatry of works-righteousness under the law, to which they had added many human rules and regulations, so that it had all become a crusing and hopeless burden.
Paul declared “Christ is the end of the Law ... there is righteousness for everyone who believes” and then he reminded them that those who would seek righteousness in only the law would be trapped in the hopeless pursuit of works-righteousness.
He instructed that righteousness by faith does not look for Christ and His salvation in heaven or hell but instead right where they stood—through a repentant heart and surrendered spirit when they declare Christ to be their Lord and Savior.
Paul reminded them that with Christ via faith all of humankind was granted equal access to salvation, without regard to Jew or Gentile.
Trying to earn the right to enter heaven when the standard is perfection is a fools-errand.
What are some of the ways that the Jews may have sought their own righteousness, despite their zealousness for God?
Does it seem that there are many ways that many people of many cultures still engage in works-righteousness today?
When have you imagined that the Lord God was far away when it was your choices that was making it hard for you to recognize that He was right beside you; actually, in your heart.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to me any way in which I may still seeking my own righteousness, Jesus plus my performance.
Today I will prayerfully reflect upon my commitment to Christ; and I will intentionally seek a path of maturity that leads to a more-complete surrender.
10:14 How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them?
10:15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.”
10:16 But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”
10:17 Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.
10:18 But I ask, have they not heard? Yes, they have: Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
10:19 But again I ask, didn’t Israel understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; with a senseless nation I will provoke you to anger.”
10:20 And Isaiah is even bold enough to say, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I became well known to those who did not ask for me.”
10:21 But about Israel he says, “All day long I held out my hands to this disobedient and stubborn people!”
Lord, You send your children who have responded to Your call to be evangelists and missionaries, and they share Your message with the unsaved. The unsaved choose to believe or not to believe. Salvation is a gift, offered to all, but is one which must be accepted. May I be grateful to those who surrendered to You not only for their salvation but to be Your instruments so that I could hear and receive.
Paul explained that before one may believe one must first hear of the gospel of Christ.
He then noted that the ones who are doing the telling are those who have been sent by the Lord God.
He emphasized that "... the preached Word of Christ" is very important so that those who hear have an opportunity to make an informed choice.
Paul reaches back to Isaiah to demonstrate how long the Lord God has been telling His story and how long many have refused to respond in faith.
He answered the question of the Israelites “.. have they not heard” as they tried to understand why the Israelites were not Christians with “ Yes, they have ...”
Paul then reminded them of the warning of Moses that it would be non-Israelites who would first respond and that would make them jealous enough to finally listen.
He clarified “I was found by those who did not seek me; I became well known to those who did not ask for me.” [Speaking of the Gentiles]
And finally Paul quoted Isaiah, in reference to Israel “All day long I held out my hands to this disobedient and stubborn people!”
No matter how many times Moses or Isaiah or others tried to explain faith to the Israelites most refused to break-away from living in the flesh and/or works-righteousness in the law.
What has been your experiences with those who have “preached”. Was what they preached the pure Word of God or was something added or deleted or distorted? How do you know?
The Lord God has chosen to use humankind in the “preaching” and “teaching”—sharing—of the gospel in his great plan of salvation.
When did you hear and how long did it take you to respond?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you n opportunity to be His instrument to bring the gospel to someone who has yet to understand and surrender.
Today I will courageously and respectfully share the gospel with the one who the Holy Spirit has prepared to receive it. I will be patient as they may take some time to absorb and accept before they repent and surrender.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Romans”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in October of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Israel’s Rejection not Complete nor Final
11:1 So I ask, God has not rejected his people, has he? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
11:2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew! Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 11:3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left and they are seeking my life!”
11:4 But what was the divine response to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand people who have not bent the knee to Baal.”
11:5 So in the same way at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 11:6 And if it is by grace, it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
11:7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was diligently seeking, but the elect obtained it. The rest were hardened, 11:8 as it is written,
“God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, to this very day.”
11:9 And David says,
“Let their table become a snare and trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
11:10 let their eyes be darkened so that they may not see, and make their backs bend continually.”
11:11 I ask then, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they? Absolutely not! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous. 11:12 Now if their transgression means riches for the world and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full restoration bring?
11:13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Seeing that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 11:14 if somehow I could provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them. 11:15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 11:16 If the first portion of the dough offered is holy, then the whole batch is holy, and if the root is holy, so too are the branches.
11:17 Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in the richness of the olive root, 11:18 do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
11:19 Then you will say, “The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 11:20 Granted! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear! 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.
11:22 Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God—harshness toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
11:23 And even they—if they do not continue in their unbelief—will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 11:24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?
11:25 For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.
11:27 And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”
11:28 In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers. 11:29 For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. 11:30 Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience, 11:31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 11:32 For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.
11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways!
11:34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?
11:35 Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay him?
11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen.
Lord, Your plan is unfolding, we need to honor and obey and to pray for those who still need to repent and surrender to You. May I be faithful in telling Your story to those who are still strangers to You and to disciple fellow-believers who need to become better servants of yours.
“Israel ... 7,000 people who have not bent the knee to Baal… a remnant…” preserved by the Lord God because they did not rebel by worshiping the false god.
“... chosen by grace ... salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous ...” [Disobedience is against the Law, first the Jews and then the Gentiles are convicted by it, this then creates the opportunity for grace to bring unmerited mercy.]
Paul used the term “grace” as he had described earlier, a response to faith, not to works, and the “elect” as he previously described to be those who met the Roman 10 standard of belief and confession to receive salvation.
Paul noted that rebellious Israel had been further-hardened by God for a time so that the Gentiles could be “grafted in” but that later on Jews who repented of their rebellion would be “grafted back in”.
The Lord God did not cause them to be hardened, they chose to worship Baal, that was their initial “hardening”. Israel had, for a time, lost its status as a favored-nation.
The Lord God used Israel as His instrument to fulfill His prophesy at the time of the Fall in the Garden of Eden, so as-such, Israel was a necessary prior-step to the Gentile’s salvation—so Paul warned the Gentiles to not disrespect the Israelites.
Those among the Israelites who would repent of their rebellion and return to the Lord God would be welcomed back into the His family for eternity.
The grace-through-mercy of God, made possible by Jesus the Christ, cannot ever be earned or deserved by fallen man but is offered in exchange for our surrender of the hopelessness of slavery to a sin-controlled existence in a fallen world.
The Israelites had a long and rocky relationship with the Lord God, often blessed, and often punished from terrible rebellion, yet the Lord God still loved them—the same as He did the very first man and woman and everything in His creation.
Does the pattern of options and choices give you confidence in the Lord God's promise to allow humankind free will, even though it pains Him greatly to see us fail and suffer, and even though it cost His only Son?
The sequence of events in God’s redemption of rebellious man:
When have you been reading your Bible and paused in amazement at the consistency and the persistent-patience and unending love of the Lord God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind me of the one most-appealing thing that drew me to Him.
Today I will reflect with a fellow believer upon the incredible expanse of HIS-story—a story where God has not allowed His children to all be destroyed, a story within which He has made corrections to the flow of human history without violating the individual free will choice of everyone to chose Him or not.
Consecration of the Believer’s Life
12:1 Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—alive, holy, and pleasing to God—which is your reasonable service.
12:2 Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.
Conduct in Humility
12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.
12:4 For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function, 12:5 so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another.
12:6 And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith. 12:7 If it is service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach; 12:8 if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.
Conduct in Love
12:9 Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.
12:10 Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another.
12:11 Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. 12:12 Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer.
12:13 Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality.
12:14 Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse.
12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
12:16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.
12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people.
12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people.
12:19 Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 12:20 Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head.
12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Lord, You teach us to not attempt to overcome evil with more evil (because we will then be overcome by evil and the enemy will have a double-victory) but rather to overcome evil with good. May I be faithful in that, even though it is contrary to my flesh, and very difficult to do—with Your indwelling Holy Spirit I am able—in Your righteous-strength.
It “... is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this present world.” Be humble, honor one another through mutual love. “Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer ... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Paul implored “... present your bodies as a sacrifice ... be transformed by the renewing of your mind” so that in knowing and applying the will [known via the Word] of God one may mature as a Christian.
Paul linked back to his discussion of “judging” to make the point that humility prevents the sin to “... think more highly of yourself than you ought to think”. He then goes on to note that the exercise of “gifts” are to be in proportion to “humility”, not to show off and not ritualistically. He specifically lists prophesy, service, teaching, exhortation, contributing, leadership, and mercy.
Paul qualifies each to show the linkage between humility (as modeled by Jesus and Paul) and the exercise of gifts:
Gift Description |
Humility-Qualifier |
Prophesy (mostly re-telling, rarely fore-telling) |
In proportion to faith (not faked) |
Service (assisting others in need) |
Serve (remember foot-washing) |
Teaching (the Word of God w/o changes) |
Teach (tell HIS-story, not yours) |
Exhortation (plead for salvation and righteousness) |
Exhort (not manipulate, motivate) |
Contributing (give from God’s bounty) |
Sincerely (not Ananias & Sapphira) |
Leadership (intentionally show the way) |
Diligence (integrity & persistence) |
Mercy (comfort, encourage, & forgive) |
Cheerfully (not reluctantly) |
Paul checked-off a list of what true Biblical love “looks like”:
Whenever we think of ourselves more-highly than we should we are then prone to “judge” others, but when we are humble we may be discerning about others without judging them.
How do the items on the chart and the checklist from Paul and reflect upon your life and how do they apply to your walk?
It is the righteousness of the Lord God that His Holy Spirit pours-out through us which accomplishes the things Paul listed.
When have you experienced or observed a struggle with humility which then was reflected in the right application of and attitude toward gifts?
Ask the Holy Spirit reveal to your at least one item on Paul’s list where you need to partner with Him in order to grow.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me for perseverance in that effort.
Submission to Civil Government
13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. 13:2 So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment 13:3 (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation, 13:4 for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God’s servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer. 13:5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities but also because of your conscience. 13:6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants devoted to governing. 13:7 Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Exhortation to Love Neighbors
13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 13:9 For the commandments, “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,” (and if there is any other commandment) are summed up in this, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 13:10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Motivation to Godly Conduct
13:11 And do this because we know the time, that it is already the hour for us to awake from sleep, for our salvation is now nearer than when we became believers. 13:12 The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near. So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light. 13:13 Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy. 13:14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires.
Lord, You teach us about our human nature and our spiritual nature in-You, then You teach us how to manage both. May I be a humble and teachable student.
Jesus taught: “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:21 [Paul was expanding on the practical application of that principle.]
Fallen humans, even believers, require the “container” or boundaries of organized systems for civilization lest we drift into Sodom and Gomorrah-like anarchy “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment ... if you do wrong, be in fear ...”
Paul was not teaching Christians to be debt-free, but to be balanced (because elsewhere the management of debt is discussed) “Pay everyone what is owed ... Owe no one anything ...” describes both immediate payments in-full and debt payments on-time.
He challenged Christians whose human nature caused them to seek their own best-interest and to think of themselves as valuable to look outside of themselves and to “Love your neighbor as yourself ...”
Paul echoed the call of Jesus to live righteously “Let us live decently as in the daytime ... put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires.”
Paul reminded that authority “... does not bear the sword in vain.”, because authority by-definition includes the power to enforce boundaries and rules.
He provided a list of expectations for Christians in-community as guidance:
Paul provided another list for us to successfully “... live decently as in the daytime” putting “... on the Lord Jesus Christ” making “... no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires.”
The fallen nature of man results in a typical outcome when fallen humans are separated from a civilizing "container" for long.
What is your understanding of the dividing line between “that which is Caesar’s” and “that which is God’s”? Reflect upon
Paul’s list for putting on the Lord Jesus Christ (righteous living) is reflected elsewhere in the direct teaching of Jesus, that of other Biblical authors, and in the Old Testament. The Lord God is perfectly-consistent.
When have you experience or observed the consequence of the absence of authority and a “container for civilization”?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in Paul's list for putting on the Lord Jesus Christ (righteous living) and identify at least one area where you need to partner with the Holy Spirit to move toward greater maturity.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me for perseverance in my effort, with the Holy Spirit, to move toward greater maturity. I will share the result of that effort with that prayer-partner and we will celebrate the praise the Lord together.
Exhortation to Mutual Forbearance
14:1 Now receive the one who is weak in the faith, and do not have disputes over differing opinions.
14:2 One person believes in eating everything, but the weak person eats only vegetables. 14:3 The one who eats everything must not despise the one who does not, and the one who abstains must not judge the one who eats everything, for God has accepted him.
14:4 Who are you to pass judgment on another’s servant? Before his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
14:5 One person regards one day holier than other days, and another regards them all alike. Each must be fully convinced in his own mind.
14:6 The one who observes the day does it for the Lord. The one who eats, eats for the Lord because he gives thanks to God, and the one who abstains from eating abstains for the Lord, and he gives thanks to God.
14:7 For none of us lives for himself and none dies for himself.
14:8 If we live, we live for the Lord; if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
14:9 For this reason Christ died and returned to life, so that he may be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
14:10 But you who eat vegetables only—why do you judge your brother or sister? And you who eat everything—why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
14:11 For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God.”
14:12 Therefore, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Exhortation for the Strong not to Destroy the Weak
14:13 Therefore we must not pass judgment on one another, but rather determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister.
14:14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean in itself; still, it is unclean to the one who considers it unclean.
14:15 For if your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy by your food someone for whom Christ died. 14:16 Therefore do not let what you consider good be spoken of as evil. 14:17 For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 14:18 For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.
14:19 So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another. 14:20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. For although all things are clean, it is wrong to cause anyone to stumble by what you eat. 14:21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything that causes your brother to stumble.
14:22 The faith you have, keep to yourself before God. Blessed is the one who does not judge himself by what he approves.
14:23 But the man who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not do so from faith, and whatever is not from faith is sin.
Lord, You give us freedoms in our faith but we are expected to be careful that we do not exercise them selfishly so as to cause our brother to stumble. May I be intentional in all that I do—bring attention and honor and glory to You.
“Now receive the one who is weak in the faith ...” Among truly saved believers whether one treats one day as “holier” than another or all the same, eats or fasts, lives or dies, because he or she belongs to the Lord all they do—and how they do it is also for the Lord and answers only to the Lord. The only things that are unclean are those which compromise ones relationship with God. “... whatever is not from faith is sin.”
Paul used the still-confused, spiritually immature, behavior of those who were “... weak in the faith” to demonstrate living-out grace toward fellow believers. Some still harbored superstitious beliefs about meat sacrificed to idols by pagans or sacrificed to God by Law-bound incomplete Jews which prevented them from eating meat “.. the weak person eats only vegetables”, He instructed the more mature who was free to eat anything to be patient with the weaker—allowing them to do as best honored God in their heart (the weak believer).
Condemnation of a “weak” believer, about things not essential to salvation or righteous living, may drive them out of fellowship, slow their spiritual growth, or even cause them to reject Christ (even though—if their confession-conversion was genuine—their salvation cannot be “lost” they may choose to live for a long time as if it were).
List examples where a wrongful attitude toward a “weak” believer was confronted and corrected. What was the outcome?
Paul used the still-confused, spiritually immature, behavior of those who were “... weak in the faith” to demonstrate living-out grace toward fellow believers.
When have you experienced confusion because someone was making choices that you did not understand as a new believer but later came to understand?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where I harbor any beliefs which limit my freedom where God has not limited it (not necessarily specific to ritualistically “clean” of “unclean” foods but perhaps denominations, human religious traditions, Bible translations, styles of music, styles of clothing, buildings, gender roles in leadership, race, etc.).
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me as I partner with the Holy Spirit to purge that immature belief from my life.
Exhortation for the Strong to Help the Weak
15:1 But we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not just please ourselves.
15:2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up. 15:3 For even Christ did not please himself, but just as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”
15:4 For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.
15:5 Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, 15:6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Exhortation to Mutual Acceptance
15:7 Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God’s glory.
15:8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 15:9 and thus the Gentiles glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Because of this I will confess you among the Gentiles, and I will sing praises to your name.”
15:10 And again it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
15:11 And again, “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him.”
15:12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, and the one who rises to rule over the Gentiles, in him will the Gentiles hope.”
15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Lord, You reminded us that we have responsibilities to others—especially fellow-believers—to be caring and considerate, sacrificing some of our comfort and convenience for their sakes. May I be careful to not impose personal preferences of style and personal freedoms of expression where such might discourage those considering-Christ or confuse or discourage new and/or less-mature fellow believers.
“... bear with the failings of the weak ... Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up ... may the God of encouragement and comfort give you unity with one another ... abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit …”
Paul continued his exhortation that we “make room for” the weaker believer, that the more mature not create an environment that made things unnecessarily confusing and/or uncomfortable for newer and/or weaker believers (and those considering-Christ).
He quoted “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” just as Jesus had challenged him on the road “Why do you persecute Me?”, it is all about Him.
He reminded that Psalms 69:9 described the provision of Christ, explaining that “... everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.”
Paul called for unity among believers, Jew and Gentile alike, “... to God’s glory.”
Paul reminded the Romans that the OT foretold salvation for the Gentiles through the Messiah and that he was “... a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles ... to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles” so that “... those who have not [yet] heard will understand.”
And he reiterated that our hope must be found in the Lord God through the Holy Spirit.
The Lord God demonstrates an amazing continuity of the Bible over thousands of years and across nations and continents. God foretold and God accomplished. We merely acknowledge.
Do we have essential unity based on what the Bible says is important or are we rebellious—dividing over that which is not essential and which God says to not divide?
There is amazing diversity within the body of Christ, old and young, male and female, across cultures and nationalities and race. New believers, stuck believers, and maturing believers.
When have you observed older believers, not necessarily more-mature (though they may think so), imposing preferences for a Bible translation, music, order of worship, style of building decoration, etc. on others—without regard for consequences?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to me a place where I have contributed to division based upon something God has said I should not
Today I will repent of what the Holy Spirit has revealed to me, I will seek forgiveness and reconciliation, or I will come along side someone who needs to do so and walk with them through the process. In either case I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement that all involved will accept the comfort, strength, and wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s Motivation for Writing the Letter
15:14 But I myself am fully convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.
15:15 But I have written more boldly to you on some points so as to remind you, because of the grace given to me by God 15:16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I serve the gospel of God like a priest, so that the Gentiles may become an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
15:17 So I boast in Christ Jesus about the things that pertain to God.
15:18 For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in order to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, 15:19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem even as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 15:20 And in this way I desire to preach where Christ has not been named, so as not to build on another person’s foundation, 15:21 but as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”
Paul’s Intention of Visiting the Romans
15:22 This is the reason I was often hindered from coming to you. 15:23 But now there is nothing more to keep me in these regions, and I have for many years desired to come to you 15:24 when I go to Spain. For I hope to visit you when I pass through and that you will help me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.
15:25 But now I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 15:26 For Macedonia and Achaia are pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
15:27 For they were pleased to do this, and indeed they are indebted to the Jerusalem saints. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are obligated also to minister to them in material things.
15:28 Therefore after I have completed this and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set out for Spain by way of you, 15:29 and I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing.
15:30 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join fervently with me in prayer to God on my behalf.
15:31 Pray that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea and that my ministry in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 15:32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.
15:33 Now may the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.
Lord, you equipped and sent the apostle Paul on Your mission to the Gentiles, and he completed it despite terrible challenges. May I discover You mission or missions for me, and may I follow his example and persevere despite opposition.
Paul encouraged the believers “... that you yourselves are full of [the Lord God's] goodness [through His indwelling Holy Spirit], filled with all [Word-imparted and spiritually-discerned] knowledge, and able to instruct one another.”
He quoted Isaiah 52:15 as a motivation for his ministry to new groups “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”
Paul asked for prayers for protection from “... those who are disobedient in Judea and that my ministry in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.”
He said that he was finally free to come to the Romans because he had shared the Word to those the Lord God wanted him to tell.
The Holy Spirit brings to the believer “goodness”, “knowledge” and wisdom, and the capacity to share all of that with others.
With all of the evidence of the Lord God’s work in and through Paul why would “the saints in Jerusalem” have any doubts about his ministry?
Paul wanted to do the most-difficult work, confronting religious leaders who felt threatened by Christianity (as he had when he was one of them), and to reach-out to the unsaved Gentiles.
When have you experienced or observed believers questioning the ministry of someone who was clearly doing the Lord's work?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a challenging new ministry.
Today I will courageously, humbly, and prayerfully go where the Lord leads and do as He directs.
Personal Greetings
16:1 Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 16:2 so that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and provide her with whatever help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many, including me.
16:3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 16:4 who risked their own necks for my life. Not only I, but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 16:5 Also greet the church in their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. 16:6 Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you. 16:7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my compatriots and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. 16:8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. 16:9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my good friend Stachys. 16:10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. 16:11 Greet Herodion, my compatriot. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. 16:12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, laborers in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord.
16:13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother who was also a mother to me.
16:14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters with them. 16:15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the believers who are with them.
16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
16:17 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them! 16:18 For these are the kind who do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of the naive.
16:19 Your obedience is known to all and thus I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.
16:20 The God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
16:21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my compatriots. 16:22 I, Tertius, who am writing this letter, greet you in the Lord. 16:23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus the city treasurer and our brother Quartus greet you.
16:24 [[EMPTY]] 16:25
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that had been kept secret for long ages, 16:26 but now is disclosed, and through the prophetic scriptures has been made known to all the nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—16:27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever! Amen.
Lord, You drew both men and women into fellowship and many went beyond mere membership to active and sacrificial service to one-another and to the cause of spreading Your gospel. May I be counted among their number.
Paul shared a lengthy list of men and women whom he respected as faithful and mature servants of Christ and commended them to the believers in Rome.
In the case of Phoebe he identifies her as serving a ministry role in the fellowship at Cenchrea. [Note: There is some debate as to if her role was that of a Biblically defined “deacon”(ess) or some other significant role other than deacon(ess). In either case God decided that her ministry role was significant enough to be recorded in His Bible.]
From the Bible.org Greek/Hebrew translation notes Paul’s reference to Rufus as “chosen of God ...” 16:13 is worth a pause:
Εκλεκτον 1) picked out, chosen 1a) chosen by God, 1a1) to obtain salvation through Christ 1a1a) Christians are called “chosen or elect” of God 1a2) the Messiah in called “elect”, as appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable 1a3) choice, select, i.e. the best of its kind or class, excellence preeminent: applied to certain individual Christians
This text and translation suggests that the term “chosen” or “elect”, the same in Greek, does not mean predestined but one of many who are saved who are for reasons of the Lord God elevated somehow within the family.
Paul warned “... watch out for those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you have learned ... I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.”
Paul noted that such people “... do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own appetites. By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of the naive.
Paul concluded this chapter, and the Book of Romans, with a word of encouragement in the spiritual battle; “The God of grace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”
Paul re-emphasized the parity between Jew and Gentile, a very touchy subject in his day.
Could Paul’s warnings against smooth talkers, flatterers, those who create dissension and obstacles—defined as selfish and self-serving—to be resisted and avoided—apply to the fellowship of believers today?
Reflect upon the consistency of the message of God—here Paul, in the service of God paralleled the writing of Luke in intentionally citing the ministry role of a woman, thereby reinforcing again the teaching of Jesus that in His family there is no division between Jew or Gentile, male or female.
When have you observed that the importance of grace to the Lord God resulted in His intervention to “crush Satan” when prayer was raised against his evil attacks?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a circumstance where “... smooth talkers, flatterers, those who create dissension and obstacles” may be harming a fellowship in your area.
Today I will pray for protection of the fellowship under siege and that the leadership will respond Biblically—in prayer and action.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Romans”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in October of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections With a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Salutation
1:1 From Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes, our brother, 1:2 to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. 1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Thanksgiving
1:4 I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus. 1:5 For you were made rich in every way in him, in all your speech and in every kind of knowledge—1:6 just as the testimony about Christ has been confirmed among you—1:7 so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Divisions in the Church
1:10 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose.
1:11 For members of Chloe’s household have made it clear to me, my brothers and sisters, that there are quarrels among you. 1:12 Now I mean this, that each of you is saying, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” or “I am with Cephas,” or “I am with Christ.”
1:13 Is Christ divided? Paul wasn’t crucified for you, was he? Or were you in fact baptized in the name of Paul? 1:14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 1:15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name! 1:16 (I also baptized the household of Stephanus. Otherwise, I do not remember whether I baptized anyone else.)
1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless.
The Message of the Cross
1:18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1:19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.” 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish?
1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching.
1:22 For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom, 1:23 but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.
1:24 But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
1:26 Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position.
1:27 But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong.
1:28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, 1:29 so that no one can boast in his presence.
1:30 He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 1:31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Lord, Your gift to us may have been communicated through a fellow human but it is You-alone Whom we should worship. May I keep my eyes on You and not on human leaders.
Paul reiterated one of the titles of Christians as “saints”, noting their parity “… with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.”
Paul affirmed that the believers in Corinth had received the indwelling Holy Spirit of God and therefore “… were made rich in every way in Him”.
[Note: Paul didn’t list any special gifts, he merely celebrated that they were filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit and therefore had access to very gift God gives to all believers—in order to serve Him.]
Paul confronted them for their idolatry of leaders “I am with Paul, or I am with Apollos, or I am with Cephas, or I am with Christ”, challenging them “Is Christ divided?”
[Note: A letter of reference from an established leader, e.g. when Barnabas spoke on Paul’s behalf or Paul spoke on behalf of Cephas, may lend to one some degree of credibility, but when any Christian leader allows him or herself to be idolized in the same manner as Paul criticized they are clearly in rebellion against the Word of God.]
Paul reminded them that they were not saved as a result of a mere pagan-like emotional response to “miraculous signs”, as many of the Jews demanded, or clever-sounding human wisdom, as the Greeks sought. For those who accepted the invitation of the Lord “Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
Paul also reminded them that most Christians were not from clever or powerful or wealthy backgrounds, as one might expect of the traditional identity of persons in a royal family, but rather were children “adopted” based on their faith-response to the truth of God. After their faith-response they were “called” or ‘invited’ or ‘summoned’ to be His children for an eternity beyond-time.
In verse 1:24 Paul used the Greek term κλητοις which from the Greek/Hebrew reference at Bible.org means:
1) called, invited (to a banquet) 1a) invited (by God in the proclamation of the Gospel) to obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom through Christ 1b) called to (the discharge of) some office 1b1) divinely selected and appointed
Please note that the primary definition is “invited” and is not “compelled”. with a secondary
definition “divinely selected and appointed”, a lesser or weaker alternative yet one that still implies a standard-applied rather than a role imposed (as is the case with predestination).
The Lord God levels the social boundaries and traditions, making all who are in His family peers, and providing gifts for ministry to all.
How can Christ truly be preached and people still make idols of the preacher?
The Enemy uses our worldly conditioning to create distractions and dissension inside of the family of believers; looking at mere humans as idols requires one to look away from God.
When have you experienced or observed the idolatry of a religious leader?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone in the business, entertainment, religious, or political world at whom you tend to look at in awe and to whom you give too much power to influence choices that you make.
Today I will reconsider fashion choices I would not make were Jesus standing visibly before me, or entertainment choices, or language I know Jesus would find disagreeable, or political actions in opposition to Biblical teaching, or priority-given to the less-important to the detriment of the more-important (perhaps man’s traditions or buildings or religious institutions). I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement that I break free of any human influence that leads me away from Jesus as the only Lord of my life.
2:1 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony of God.
2:2 For I decided to be concerned about nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 2:3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling.
2:4 My conversation and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 2:5 so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.
Wisdom from God
2:6 Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing.
2:7 Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory. 2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
2:9 But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.”
2:10 God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
2:11 For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
2:12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God.
2:13 And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.
2:14 The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
2:15 The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one.
2:16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Lord, You have given to humankind a very simple and repeated Word of Your wisdom—to listen to and obey You and You will provide a way back—yet we have refused to listen and obey. May I listen and obey, not merely rest on Your assurance of my salvation, but to share with others Your Gospel.
Paul avoided the use of human wisdom or clever persuasion but the pure Word of God, “… Jesus Christ, and Him crucified … so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.”
[Note: Paul draws a clear line of delineation between what is taught to potential seekers and “baby” believers and what to “the mature”. A non-believer has no chance, without the indwelling Holy Spirit, of comprehending “wisdom” but only the simple saving message of power of God. The baby believer is capable of moving beyond that but few ever choose to do so.]
He taught that believers received the indwelling Spirit of God so that He may teach the things that have been hidden for a time, things that the unbeliever cannot comprehend or accept.
[Note: Paul affirms the “personhood” of the Holy Spirit in verses 2:10-11 “God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.”]
Paul also explained the difference between a saved and unsaved person, the reason why he elsewhere teaches that a believer and unbeliever should never marry and never be joined in a business partnership, the unbeliever will never understand the reasons why a believer lives as he or she does.
[Note: There is no Biblical concept as “missionary dating” or “missionary dealing”.]
The Lord God provides wisdom that cannot be found in any human source.
What was the key difference, as Paul presented it, between expectations between the unsaved (perhaps those considering-Christ), baby/new believers, and more-mature believers?
There are different perspectives and priorities between a saved versus an unsaved person and that has an impact on a business partnership or a marriage relationship.
In the fellowships with which you have been familiar, was it clear that the leadership understood Paul’s teaching as to differences between unsaved people versus baby believers versus mature believers?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you anything about the way that you interact with "baby" believers, more-mature believers, and non-believers that needs to change. Are my expectations appropriate to what Paul taught about these three different populations? Do I choose my words and the nature of my interactions appropriately?
Today I will alter my interaction, as the Holy Spirit leads, so that I am a more-valuable instrument in His ministry.
Immaturity and Self-deception
3:1 So, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but instead as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 3:2 I fed you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready. In fact, you are still not ready, 3:3 for you are still influenced by the flesh. For since there is still jealousy and dissension among you, are you not influenced by the flesh and behaving like unregenerate people? 3:4 For whenever someone says, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” are you not merely human?
3:5 What is Apollos, really? Or what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, and each of us in the ministry the Lord gave us.
3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow.
3:7 So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth. 3:8 The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work.
3:9 We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God’s field, God’s building. 3:10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder I laid a foundation, but someone else builds on it. And each one must be careful how he builds.
3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ.
3:12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 3:13 each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. 3:14 If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. 3:15 If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
3:16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 3:17 If someone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, which is what you are.
3:18 Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise.
3:19 For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
3:20 And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
3:21 So then, no more boasting about mere mortals! For everything belongs to you, 3:22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. Everything belongs to you, 3:23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
Lord, You teach through mere humans but the Word of truth is still from You alone. May I be watchful not to allow respect for a good teacher to take my eyes off of You-alone.
Because the Corinthians had resisted separation from the world they had not grown—Paul expressed frustration that he could not lead them to greater maturity because they lacked a foundation upon which to build.
Paul used an agricultural illustration, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow.” The human servants are nothing, what is important comes from God alone. “So then, no more boasting about mere mortals!”
Paul called them to seek maturity “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?
Finally, Paul warned against self-deception, that baby-believers must never imagine themselves to be wise or mature or strong in-their-flesh, but only wise, mature, and strong becaue of what they have received from the Lord God.
The reason so many who attend fellowships, mislabeled "churches", do not grow is because they look to other humans and their institutions to give growth instead of the Lord God.
When you think about your early walk with Christ and some of the ways that you “got out ahead” of God, presuming maturity, strength, and/or wisdom you did not yet possess—and how the enemy used that to lead you into some difficult situations—what role did the support of fellow believers and the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit play in moving you to maturity?
Spiritual growth is a voluntary partnership between the believer and the Holy Spirit.
When have you observed the idolatry of human leaders in a religious context?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place your life where you are either looking too much to a human leader than directly to God, are resisting the Holy Spirit’s obvious efforts to lead you to greater maturity, or are presuming upon more maturity than you have yet received from the Lord God.
Today I will humbly acknowledge where I am repeatedly finding myself in overwhelming situations. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement that I reconcile myself to a more Biblical standing.
The Apostles’ Ministry
4:1 One should think about us this way—as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
4:2 Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful. 4:3 So for me, it is a minor matter that I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4:4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord.
4:5 So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition from God.
4:6 I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other. 4:7 For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?
4:8 Already you are satisfied! Already you are rich! You have become kings without us! I wish you had become kings so that we could reign with you! 4:9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people.
4:10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored! 4:11 To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads. 4:12 We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure, 4:13 when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world’s dirt and scum, even now.
A Father’s Warning
4:14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children.
4:15 For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
4:16 I encourage you, then, be imitators of me.
4:17 For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
4:18 Some have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 4:19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not only the talk of these arrogant people, but also their power.
4:20 For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.
4:21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
Lord, You expect anyone in leadership to be as humble as those whom they are entrusted to lead. May I always remember my complete reliance upon You for everything of value in my life.
Paul taught that “… what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful.”
He rejected those who condemned him for some worldly reason, saying “The one who judges me is the Lord …”
Paul warned teachers to “… learn not to go beyond what is written.”
He challenged them to avoid pride since nothing they had of eternal value came from their own resources “… What do you have that you did not receive?”
Paul explained his authority to oversee them “… I became your Father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”
He offered to serve as a role model of one who was himself humbled by the Lord God “… I have sent Timothy to you… He will remind you of my ways in Christ… I encourage you, then, be imitators of me. ”
Paul cautioned them that Jesus did not come to start a debating-society or a religious institution but rather came with the power to set the captives of sin free and to transform people from meaningless pawns of Satan to purposeful instruments of hope “… the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.”
He warned that none should presume to judge the eternal standing of another but to wait and allow the Lord to do so at the Final Judgment.
Paul noted that he and Apollos held themselves to the same standard of humility that they asked of others.
Faithfulness to the Word, nothing added or subtracted, is a high priority.
What is the evidence, or lack of evidence, in your current fellowship of a powerful call to all believers to emphasize growth in faithfulness to God and to the priorities of Christ?
Among the religious leaders whom you have observed, do they show the level of humility modeled by Paul or have they fallen prey to a temptation-to-pride?
When have you observed a humble and Biblically-faithful leader—what impact did that have on the health of the fellowship?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your walk with the Lord God where your faithfulness is weak and that you instead turn to worldly sources for provision and ‘wisdom’.
Today I will humbly ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me for greater surrender to the Lordship of Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Church Discipline
5:1 It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles, so that someone is cohabiting with his father’s wife.
5:2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you have been deeply sorrowful instead and removed the one who did this from among you?
5:3 For even though I am absent physically, I am present in spirit. And I have already judged the one who did this, just as though I were present.
5:4 When you gather together in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5:5 turn this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
5:6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast affects the whole batch of dough? 5:7 Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch of dough—you are, in fact, without yeast. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
5:8 So then, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of vice and evil, but with the bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.
5:9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. 5:10 In no way did I mean the immoral people of this world, or the greedy and swindlers and idolaters, since you would then have to go out of the world.
5:11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who calls himself a Christian who is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or verbally abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person.
5:12 For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Are you not to judge those inside?
5:13 But God will judge those outside. Remove the evil person from among you.
Lord, You offered us salvation for the same reason that You set-apart Israel, to draw us into an intimate and righteous relationship with You. May I be watchful that I hold myself and fellow-believers accountable for right-relationship rather than pointing fingers at the unsaved.
Paul expressed shock and disappointment that “… sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles … someone is cohabiting with his father’s wife”
He challenged them for and attitude of pride rather than of deep sorrow. Their attitude was much like that of Israel when they criticized their pagan neighbors, or the Pharisees when they prayed pridefully that they were glad not to be like “those others”.
Paul instructed them to “ … turn this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord”
He warned them that … a little yeast affects the whole batch” so they needed to remove him from the fellowship, that allowing unrepentant believers, actively engaged in behaviors offensive to God, will poison the spiritual well-being of the entire fellowship.
Paul instructed them do “ … not associate with anyone who calls himself a Christian who is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or verbally abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler … judge those inside … Remove the evil person from among you”, to expel an unrepentant member for sexual misbehavior.
Paul challenged the institutional arrogance of a local fellowship that was more proud of their numbers and their vaunted-tolerance than of their maturity and righteousness.
Paul called for discipline to be exercised by the local fellowship as a warning to others that the same discipline faced them if they were engaged in unrepentant sin.
The Lord God wants us to make two connected-choices, first to repent and to accept His restorative-gift of salvation, and second to surrender to His active Lordship.
What is likely to happen in a situation where an unrepentant believer, actively engaged in behaviors offensive to God, is offered loving reconciliation but refuses and is expelled. Will others decide to break-away from their sin, confess and seek forgiveness, and be reconciled?
How can one criticize the sin of the unsaved, who lack the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and then engage in (or tolerate in other believers) the very same sin?
When have you observed a situation where an unrepentant believer, actively engaged in behaviors offensive to God, was not expelled but allowed to remain. What was the result?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a member of your fellowship who is resisting God’s call to repent of their evil conduct.
Today I will pray for a member of my fellowship who is resisting God’s call to repent of their evil conduct, who has been disciplined, and who is therefore also resisting the opportunity to be reconciled and restored to full fellowship. Or, I will pray for leaders to accept God’s wisdom and that they will deal appropriately with an unrepentant believer-in-sin who is poisoning the fellowship.
Lawsuits
6:1 When any of you has a legal dispute with another, does he dare go to court before the unrighteous rather than before the saints?
6:2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to settle trivial suits?
6:3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? Why not ordinary matters!
6:4 So if you have ordinary lawsuits, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church?
6:5 I say this to your shame! Is there no one among you wise enough to settle disputes between fellow Christians? 6:6 Instead, does a Christian sue a Christian, and do this before unbelievers?
6:7 The fact that you have lawsuits among yourselves demonstrates that you have already been defeated. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 6:8 But you yourselves wrong and cheat, and you do this to your brothers and sisters!
6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, 6:10 thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God.
6:11 Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Flee Sexual Immorality
6:12 “All things are lawful for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “All things are lawful for me”—but I will not be controlled by anything.
6:13 “Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both.” The body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
6:14 Now God indeed raised the Lord and he will raise us by his power.
6:15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
6:16 Or do you not know that anyone who is united with a prostitute is one body with her? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
6:17 But the one united with the Lord is one spirit with him. 6:18 Flee sexual immorality! “Every sin a person commits is outside of the body”—but the immoral person sins against his own body.
6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 6:20 For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.
Lord, because Your Holy Spirit dwells in every believer, we have each become “… the temple of the Holy Spirit”. May I be mindful that there are many things that I choose which offend Him and some places He will not go with me.
Paul chastised the Corinthians for the absence of Christian conciliation, reconciliation, remediation and arbitration but for instead taking one another before a non-Christian authority for the judgment of disputes.
He reminded them that those who are unrepentant in their sin would not be allowed into Heaven.
Paul reminded them that the repentance of believers is a testimony to their salvation, so the corollary was also true, the absence of repentance testified to the absence of salvation.
Paul again challenged them to live righteously as the children of God, and dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit of God, honoring rather than dishonoring their bodies.
The very Holy Spirit of the Lord God dwells in every believer.
How does knowing that the Holy Spirit of God dwells in you help you to make more God-honoring choices?
There is power from viewing every decision with a true sense of the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit of God—in the context that they see you as already sanctified and made holy in Heaven.
When have you experienced of observed believers taking fellow believers to court? What was the consequence to the fellowship, or fellowships, involved? What was the context of the perceptions of the community?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a bad choice you made because you forgot that the Holy Spirit lives in you and desires that you not take Him into unrighteousness.
Today I will revisit a bad choice that I have been making from the prayerfully-considered perspective that Jesus and the Holy Spirit of God see me as already sanctified and made holy in Heaven. I will describe that experience with a fellow believer and ask them to pray in agreement that I will bring all of my decisions into the same context.
Celibacy and Marriage
7:1 Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
7:2 But because of immoralities, each man should have relations with his own wife and each woman with her own husband.
7:3 A husband should give to his wife her sexual rights, and likewise a wife to her husband.
7:4 It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to his own body, but the wife.
7:5 Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then resume your relationship, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
7:6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7:7 I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that.
7:8 To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am.
7:9 But if they do not have self-control, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.
7:10 To the married I give this command—not I, but the Lord—a wife should not divorce a husband 7:11 (but if she does, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a husband should not divorce his wife.
7:12 To the rest I say—I, not the Lord—if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy to live with him, he should not divorce her.
7:13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is happy to live with her, she should not divorce him.
7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife because of her husband. Otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.
7:15 But if the unbeliever wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you in peace.
7:16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will bring your husband to salvation? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will bring your wife to salvation?
The Circumstances of Your Calling
7:17 Nevertheless, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction in all the churches. 7:18 Was anyone called after he had been circumcised? He should not try to undo his circumcision. Was anyone called who is uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Instead, keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
7:20 Let each one remain in that situation in life in which he was called. 7:21 Were you called as a slave? Do not worry about it. But if indeed you are able to be free, make the most of the opportunity.
7:22 For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. In the same way, the one who was called as a free person is Christ’s slave. 7:23 You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men.
7:24 In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters, let him remain in it with God.
Remaining Unmarried
7:25 With regard to the question about people who have never married, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy.
7:26 Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are.
7:27 The one bound to a wife should not seek divorce. The one released from a wife should not seek marriage.
7:28 But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face difficult circumstances, and I am trying to spare you such problems.
7:29 And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none, 7:30 those with tears like those not weeping, those who rejoice like those not rejoicing, those who buy like those without possessions, 7:31 those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full. For the present shape of this world is passing away.
7:32 And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.
7:33 But a married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife, 7:34 and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband.
7:35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service to the Lord.
7:36 If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry.
7:37 But the man who is firm in his commitment, and is under no necessity but has control over his will, and has decided in his own mind to keep his own virgin, does well.
7:38 So then, the one who marries his own virgin does well, but the one who does not, does better.
7:39 A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes (only someone in the Lord). 7:40 But in my opinion, she will be happier if she remains as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God!
Lord, Your greatest desire is that we be in the most-intimate relationship with You, but You will share us with a peer-believer in marriage. May I always has as my first love the Lord God.
Paul calls each to serve God as best they can as He found and saved them “… as God has called each person, so must he [or she] live”, slave or free, married or single, to not be obsessed with altering their worldly condition but to focus on how to best serve the Lord.
He reiterates that the Lord God does not want people to be divorced but that He does allow for divorce, in two illustrations in the case of the unbeliever choosing to leave the believing spouse, and the other the one who divorces a believing-spouse may not marry another so long as the spouse lives—but they may re-marry their spouse.
[Note: Deuteronomy describes a limitation to marrying a former spouse who has been married to another since the divorce. It does not describe “marriage” such that one may consider a ‘marriage-equivalent’ relationship as fitting the limitation. There is no language describing if the restriction of marriage to another exists if the former spouse marries another.]
Paul explains that his recommendation of singleness is “Because of the impending crisis … I want you to be free from concern …”, that he wants them to be undistracted by a spouse or children, and less vulnerable to threats against their loved ones.
[Note: Paul’s reference to getting married is not intended to suggest that people with a lust problem rush into marriage, as that would continue within the marriage and likely tear it apart. He was speaking mostly to engaged couples who - in those times - were all-but married and were highly tempted. Thus his reference to “his virgin” in verse 7:38]
There is potential for a healthier new perspective in the lives of believers if they will place the Lord God ahead of romantic relationships.
How are romantic relationships, both as youth and adults, distracting from spiritual maturity and how does that remain even in a Biblical-Christian marriage?
Reflect upon the
It is important for a couple in marital conflict to engage more-mature members of the fellowship to assist them in an intentional process of reconciliation with a limited time of separation—to prevent a third-party romance from interfering while they are weak and apart.
When have you experienced or observed a romantic relationship interfering with a healthy relationship with the Lord God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a current, or past, circumstance where a romantic relationship interfered with your relationship with the Lord God.
Today I will pray that I will place God first, in my marriage, or if single in every relationship—that I will desperately seek God instead of a fellow human.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “1 Corinthians” — prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in December of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Food Sacrificed to Idols
8:1 With regard to food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
8:2 If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know.
8:3 But if someone loves God, he is known by God.
8:4 With regard then to eating food sacrificed to idols, we know that “an idol in this world is nothing,” and that “there is no God but one.”
8:5 If after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),
8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we live.
8:7 But this knowledge is not shared by all. And some, by being accustomed to idols in former times, eat this food as an idol sacrifice, and their conscience, because it is weak, is defiled.
8:8 Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do.
8:9 But be careful that this liberty of yours does not become a hindrance to the weak.
8:10 For if someone weak sees you who possess knowledge dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience be “strengthened” to eat food offered to idols?
8:11 So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed.
8:12 If you sin against your brothers or sisters in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
8:13 For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of them to sin.
Lord, You are the only True God, all other claims to “god” are false and are of the Enemy, the devil. May I be careful to never give-away power to any sort of an idol nor to confuse a brother or sister through carelessness in the use of things that they still associate with idols.
Idols are nothing in reality but to the unsaved and the immature believer some are confused by the things associated with them.
Paul challenged the more mature believers to be alert to the potential that their conduct may have, thought not necessarily bad in and of itself, to the easily confused unsaved person or immature believer.
It is better to avoid being observed or known to engage in some activities if they may be used by the Enemy to harm the vulnerable—it is a voluntary sacrifice as an act of caring about others.
The Lord God is the only True God and all others are deceivers.
How could actions, places, and words be used by the Enemy to confuse potential believers about Christ or His power to bring freedom from sin?
How might an immature believer or a potential believer be confused watching you yelling at a clerk in a store or at a referee at a ball game, behaving disrespectfully toward your spouse, mistreating your children, asking someone to help you to cheat on your taxes, downloading entertainment or other computer-base software illegally, observing you drunk in a bar room or wasting God’s money in a casino or on lottery tickets, boasting, gossiping, lying. or threatening a brother or a non-believer with legal or physical or social violence?
When have you observed a believer being careless in their choices? Did it confuse you or someone else about the Lord God or about the nature of that person’s faith?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where your “witness for Christ” needs some help.
Today I promise to partner with Him to repent (turn away) and mature. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement and to walk with me to greater maturity.
The Rights of an Apostle
9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
9:2 If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the confirming sign of my apostleship in the Lord.
9:3 This is my defense to those who examine me. 9:4 Do we not have the right to financial support?
9:5 Do we not have the right to the company of a believing wife, like the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
9:6 Or do only Barnabas and I lack the right not to work? 9:7 Who ever serves in the army at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not consume its milk?
9:8 Am I saying these things only on the basis of common sense, or does the law not say this as well? 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” God is not concerned here about oxen, is he? 9:10 Or is he not surely speaking for our benefit? It was written for us, because the one plowing and threshing ought to work in hope of enjoying the harvest. 9:11 If we sowed spiritual blessings among you, is it too much to reap material things from you?
9:12 If others receive this right from you, are we not more deserving? But we have not made use of this right. Instead we endure everything so that we may not be a hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
9:13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple eat food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar receive a part of the offerings? 9:14 In the same way the Lord commanded those who proclaim the gospel to receive their living by the gospel.
9:15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing these things so that something will be done for me. In fact, it would be better for me to die than—no one will deprive me of my reason for boasting! 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason for boasting, because I am compelled to do this. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 9:17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility. 9:18 What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may offer the gospel free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights in the gospel.
9:19 For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people.
9:20 To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law.
9:21 To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law.
9:22 To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some.
9:23 I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it.
9:24 Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win.
9:25 Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.
9:26 So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. 9:27 Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified.
Lord, You call a few to a higher-level of sacrificial ministry, though You call every believer to a lifetime of daily ministry. May I be watchful for faithful servants who may have needs, in addition encouragement and prayer, which You wish me to help meet.
Paul reminded them that the true Christian is “compelled” to preach Christ.
He observed that among the apostles, the Lord’s [biological/legal] brothers, and Cephas only he and Barnabas were without “the company of a believing wife.”
Paul addressed the reasonable and Biblical expectation that the members of a fellowship provide for the needs of those sent by God to lead them.
Paul concluded that he chose not to accept regular support [he did accept occasional gifts, especially when imprisoned] so that he was unencumbered by human expectations.
If ministry were simplified to parallel the apostle Paul’s, "preaching nothing but Christ and Him crucified" (to the unsaved) and challenging the saved to a Biblical standard of maturity, perhaps the opportunities for manipulation might be reduced.
How might a pastor, or others in ministry leadership be supported so that they are not distracted by unmet physical needs, yet are protected from institutional manipulation?
The sacrifices made by all of the early leaders called by Jesus are a stark contrast to the way that many of us complain of the least inconvenience.
When have you observed a highly-structured religious organization, with salaried pastors and staff, begins to misuse the pastor and staff’s financial and organizational dependence to manipulate how they functioned as leaders?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a leader or leader to whom I should give special support for their ministry for the Lord God.
Today I will consider how I support the spiritual leaders of my fellowship. If I believe that they were called to leadership and are being Biblically-faithful in their teaching then I will invest in their effectiveness for Christ. If I am a leader I will reflect upon the stewardship of the support God has led His children to provide and be certain that my choices do not impose unnecessary burdens upon those whom I serve.
Learning from Israel’s Failures
10:1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, 10:2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.
10:5 But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness.
10:6 These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did.
10:7 So do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
10:8 And let us not be immoral, as some of them were, and twenty-three thousand died in a single day.
10:9 And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes.
10:10 And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
10:12 So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall.
10:13 No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.
Avoid Idol Feasts
10:14 So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 10:15 I am speaking to thoughtful people. Consider what I say. 10:16 Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 10:17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all share the one bread. 10:18 Look at the people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar?
10:19 Am I saying that idols or food sacrificed to them amount to anything? 10:20 No, I mean that what the pagans sacrifice is to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 10:22 Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we really stronger than he is?
Live to Glorify God
10:23 “Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,” but not everything builds others up.
10:24 Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person.
10:25 Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience, 10:26 for the earth and its abundance are the Lord’s.
10:27 If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience.
10:28 But if someone says to you, “This is from a sacrifice,” do not eat, because of the one who told you and because of conscience—10:29 I do not mean yours but the other person’s. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience?
10:30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for the food that I give thanks for? 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
10:32 Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, 10:33 just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.
Lord, You gave Adam and Eve freedom to make choices in the Garden and they chose wrongly, and continuously over history You did so with humankind. May I learn from history and make an intentional effort to not repeat the errors of the past.
Paul reminded the believers that Christ was the “rock” from which the people who followed the leadership of Moses “drank the water of life”, but many were rebellious and the consequence was death.
In 1Cor10:9 he identified Numbers 21:5-9 as a direct reference to Christ, a testimony to the pre-existence of Christ that also occurs in Jude 5.
Paul explained the purpose of the Lord God allowing choices and consequences in the Old Testament times “These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction …”
He gave them a word of wisdom to prevent them both from arrogant or careless failure “No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Cor. 13
Paul warned them to not participate in activities honoring evil, while the mere physical elements (food and drink) may be harmless, the sociological and spiritual elements are not.
He reinforced the teaching of freedom-with-responsibility for Christians; one may freely “Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience …” and may also eat freely when the guest of an unbeliever, but should an immature believer raise a concern that the food had been sacrificed to idols one should refrain from eating in their presence. [Note: Paul is not intending to say that everything in the marketplace is equally healthy, as relates to “taking care of the Temple”, but is clearly restricting his meaning to spiritual matters or “conscience”.]
There is nothing new about the ways that we "set ourselves up to fail" through choices that are clearly not God-honoring and/or are carelessly made without pausing to consult God though His indwelling Holy Spirit.
How does a believer separate the "tests" or faithfulness to which Paul referred from the day-to-day challenges of life in a fallen world? Isn’t there a difficult balance between freedom and responsibility?
There is great value in the assurance and strength-for-endurance-in-righteousness which flows from the promise of God in 1 Cor. 10:13.
When have you found the Lord God’s assurance in 1 Cor. 10:13 just what you needed to endure a difficult life-challenge?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one area of your life where you all-too-often repeat a poor decision and set yourself up to fail as a good witness to Christ and as a more-mature believer pursuing an intentionally-righteous life.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement that I recognize the gift of discernment which is promised by the Holy Spirit for those who need it, and for the courage to repent and to mature.
11:1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
Women’s Head Coverings
11:2 I praise you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I passed them on to you.
11:3 But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.
11:4 Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered disgraces his head.
11:5 But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered disgraces her head, for it is one and the same thing as having a shaved head.
11:6 For if a woman will not cover her head, she should cut off her hair. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should cover her head.
11:7 For a man should not have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God. But the woman is the glory of the man. 11:8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man.
11:9 Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for man.
11:10 For this reason a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
11:11 In any case, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 11:12 For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman. But all things come from God.
11:13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
11:14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace for him, 11:15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.
11:16 If anyone intends to quarrel about this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.
The Lord’s Supper
11:17 Now in giving the following instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. 11:18 For in the first place, when you come together as a church I hear there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 11:19 For there must in fact be divisions among you, so that those of you who are approved may be evident. 11:20 Now when you come together at the same place, you are not really eating the Lord’s Supper. 11:21 For when it is time to eat, everyone proceeds with his own supper. One is hungry and another becomes drunk. 11:22 Do you not have houses so that you can eat and drink? Or are you trying to show contempt for the church of God by shaming those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I will not praise you for this!
11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, 11:24 and after he had given thanks he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 11:25 In the same way, he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
11:26 For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
11:27 For this reason, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
11:28 A person should examine himself first, and in this way let him eat the bread and drink of the cup. 11:29 For the one who eats and drinks without careful regard for the body eats and drinks judgment against himself.
11:30 That is why many of you are weak and sick, and quite a few are dead.
11:31 But if we examined ourselves, we would not be judged. 1
1:32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned with the world.
11:33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 11:34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that when you assemble it does not lead to judgment. I will give directions about other matters when I come.
Lord, You value men and women equally, but assign to them differing roles within Your fellowship. You also desire that we honor one-another and that we do not dishonor times set-apart for special worship of You. May I be careful to respect and to teach respect.
Paul addressed a local conflict, but one with meaning to all of the churches [fellowships of believers]; how to manage the relationship of (believing) husbands and wives within the church [fellowship of believers].
He noted that those who chose to be joined in [Biblical Christian] marriage agreed that the male would be the spiritual leader of the home and within the church [fellowship of believers] the wife would not act without consultation with him.
[Note 1: Paul carefully qualifies this instruction in three ways; it appears to be confined to married couples - extrapolating to all males and females in the church is awkward and not required by the text, verse 11:3 demands that the husband be submitted to Christ as a condition of his authority, and verses 11:11-12 that the husband and wife recognize their interdependence from both the order of Creation and the process of physical birth.]
[Note 2: Paul’s instructions re. the “covering” of the head appears to be illustrative rather than regulatory else he would have included instructions to define the type of covering. Given Paul’s repeated emphasis upon “freedom” from legalism such a regulation would clearly have been contradictory.]
Paul addressed another local conflict; when believers gathered in fellowship some arrived hungry without food or drink, others brought and hoarded their food and/or drink, in this way there were “haves” and “have-nots”, hungry and gorged, sober and drunk believers in the midst of a gathering Jesus had commanded for the worship of God.
Paul instructed that people eat prior to arriving for fellowship so that “the Lord’s Supper” [perhaps a euphemism here for worship] be the focus and not mere human dining.
[Note: Even if Paul were not using “the Lord’s Supper” here as a euphemism for worship he was still instructing them as to how they might remove a terrible distraction which was compromising the quality of their fellowship with one another and with God.]
Paul gives a good example of the distractions people brought to a time of worship for the gathered believers - similar distractions still happen today.
What are some ways that the verses about men and women can be misunderstood and misapplied out of their full Biblical context?
There is a Biblical context of marriage and understanding that is critical for potential married couples. The “elders” must be involved in a process of prayer and teaching prior to any decision to seek marriage to avoid allowing emotions to overwhelm good judgment.
When have you experienced or observed couples so overwhelmed by romantic thoughts that they failed to consult the Lord God—and the pastor, “elders”, and their peers all failed to counsel them to slow down and seek His wisdom?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you His desire for you in respectful worship, honoring one-another, and/or responsible choices in romantic relationship.
Today I will, if I am a single person involved in any sort of romantic or potentially romantic relationship, ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement that I will consult one or more persons who meet the Biblical qualification of “elder” prior to making any decisions to consider engagement and marriage.
Today, if I am married I will prayerfully reflect upon God’s teaching to discover the following:
If I am the husband my life is increasingly submitted to Christ such as to earn the right to be trusted as the spiritual leader of my home;
If I am the wife that I honor Christ in the way that I honor my husband.
Today I will also look closely to discover if there is anything about my attitude, clothing, or participation in our fellowship which may create a distraction—and repent of it.
Spiritual Gifts
12:1 With regard to spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 12:2 You know that when you were pagans you were often led astray by speechless idols, however you were led. 12:3 So I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
12:4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
12:5 And there are different ministries, but the same Lord.
12:6 And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.
12:7 To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all.
12:8 For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 12:10 to another performance of miracles, to another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
12:11 It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things.
Different Members in One Body
12:12 For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body—though many—are one body, so too is Christ.
12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks or slaves or free, we were all made to drink of the one Spirit. 12:14 For in fact the body is not a single member, but many.
12:15 If the foot says, “Since I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that.
12:16 And if the ear says, “Since I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that.
12:17 If the whole body were an eye, what part would do the hearing? If the whole were an ear, what part would exercise the sense of smell?
12:18 But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as he decided.
12:19 If they were all the same member, where would the body be? 12:20 So now there are many members, but one body. 12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor in turn can the head say to the foot, “I do not need you.” 12:22 On the contrary, those members that seem to be weaker are essential, 12:23 and those members we consider less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our unpresentable members are clothed with dignity, 12:24 but our presentable members do not need this. Instead, God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member, 12:25 so that there may be no division in the body, but the members may have mutual concern for one another.
12:26 If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it.
12:27 Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you is a member of it.
12:28 And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues. 12:29 Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform miracles, do they? 12:30 Not all have gifts of healing, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they? Not all interpret, do they?
12:31 But you should be eager for the greater gifts.
And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison.
Lord, You give us gifts because You have chosen to do Your work through us as a blessing to others (and to us in passing). May I always remember that Your gifts are for others, they do not make me special, and are not intended to bring any fame or glory to me.
Paul addressed the matter of spiritual gifts, beginning with the reminder that many had been “led astray” by “speechless idols” when they “were pagans” and that he did not want them to again be led astray a believers.
Paul noted that all gifts are given by God “for the benefit of all”, the different gifts come from the same Spirit, and the different ministries with different results belong to one Lord.
Paul lists several gifts:
Paul noted that the Holy Spirit was the distributing source “… as He decides to each person, Who produces all these things.” and that every part of the “body” of believers was equally valuable and to be equally honored and valued.
Paul also provided a chronology of God’s provision to the fellowship; apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues. Note: This is not intended to be a hierarchy of value.]
Paul then noted that no one received all of the gifts and no gift was common to all, that that they should seek after “the greater gifts” [defined in chapter 14 as those which “instruct others” such as prophesy rather than the more self-focused gift of tongues].
[Note: This is the first place in the NT where a form of the general gift of tongues is referenced that is in need of “interpretation”, in this case because it is a private communication with God not usually intended for public utterance.]
The Lord God’s often-repeated priority is that all that we do, including the use of the gifts He provides, is that they be used by Him to serve others through us.
How have the various gifts the Lord God has given you, and how He has used them to mature you, been an encouragement to you to then teach others?
Paul upon accountability, through independent interpretation and balance, to keep “experiential emotionalism” and “show-boat boasting” away from the fellowship.
When have you observed the misuse of gifts, displayed as a way to draw attention to the person, rather than to bless others and to bring glory to the Lord God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any way that your use of His gifts has somehow drifted into a self-serving and/or attention-getting tool.
Today I will prayerfully reflect on the gifts God has given me and with the help of the Holy Spirit discern if my use of those gifts mostly serves others and brings glory to God or tends to be more self-serving and/or draw attention to me. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement that I persevere in realigning my priorities as necessary.
The Way of Love
13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
13:2 And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
13:3 If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit.
13:4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up.
13:5 It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful.
13:6 It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth.
13:7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
13:8 Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be set aside.
13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, 13:10 but when what is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside.
13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways.
13:12 For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known.
13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Lord, You have chosen to use us in Your great plan and give to us gifts and talents and opportunity. May I be alert to opportunity, generous with talents, and careful to give You all-glory for gifts.
At the conclusion of Chapter 12 Paul wrote “12:31 But you should be eager for the greater gifts. And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison.”
Having just explained the purpose and value of the “gifts of the Holy Spirit” he then placed them in proper Biblical perspective.
He concluded that by comparison none of the gifts have any implicit value, the only things of lasting and implicit-value are “… faith, hope, and love” … “But the greatest of these is love.”
Paul further explained that where love was absent in the exercise of spiritual gifts a wrong heart-attitude poisoned and nullified the value of the gifts—because the expression and impact of love was their purpose.
He listed examples of what love looked like in practice; “patient … kind … not envious … does not brag … not puffed-up … not rude … not self-serving … not easily angered or resentful … not glad about injustice … rejoices in the truth … bears all things [without complaining based on 1 Cor. 10:13], believes all things [of the Lord], hopes all things [promised by God], endures all things [that come from life in this fallen world and additional specific attacks because one is a Christian].
Paul noted that all things but love will come to an end as they only have temporary value outside of Heaven, that as maturity grows so does our ability to love well, and though we are limited in our vision and comprehension now - in Heaven we will “know fully”.
Gifts are only given as a tool of the Lord God’s expression of love through saving-grace.
Study some examples of individuals and circumstances with fellowships where believers have demonstrated right and loving and wrong and unloving attitudes.
The attribute of love in our lives is blessed by the Lord God.
When have you observed the misuse of gifts?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal a wrong attitude in you with a love-attitude.
Today I will prayerfully seek an opportunity to replace a wrong attitude in me with a love-attitude. I will share the experience and the result with a fellow believer.
Prophecy and Tongues
14:1 Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
14:2 For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit.
14:3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.
14:4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
14:5 I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened.
14:6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation or with knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
14:7 It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood? 14:8 If, for example, the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will get ready for battle? 14:9 It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.
14:10 There are probably many kinds of languages in the world, and none is without meaning.
14:11 If then I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
14:12 It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church.
14:13 So then, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
14:14 If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.
14:15 What should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, but I will also sing praises with my mind.
14:16 Otherwise, if you are praising God with your spirit, how can someone without the gift say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 14:17 For you are certainly giving thanks well, but the other person is not strengthened.
14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you, 14:19 but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
14:20 Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking. Instead, be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
14:21 It is written in the law: “By people with strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, yet not even in this way will they listen to me,” says the Lord.
14:22 So then, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
14:23 So if the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and unbelievers or uninformed people enter, will they not say that you have lost your minds?
14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be called to account by all.
14:25 The secrets of his heart are disclosed, and in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, “God is really among you.”
Church Order
14:26 What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church.
14:27 If someone speaks in a tongue, it should be two, or at the most three, one after the other, and someone must interpret.
14:28 But if there is no interpreter, he should be silent in the church. Let him speak to himself and to God.
14:29 Two or three prophets should speak and the others should evaluate what is said.
14:30 And if someone sitting down receives a revelation, the person who is speaking should conclude.
14:31 For you can all prophesy one after another, so all can learn and be encouraged.
14:32 Indeed, the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, 14:33 for God is not characterized by disorder but by peace.
As in all the churches of the saints, 14:34 the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. Rather, let them be in submission, as in fact the law says.
14:35 If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.
14:36 Did the word of God begin with you, or did it come to you alone?
14:37 If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. 14:38 If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
14:39 So then, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues.
14:40 And do everything in a decent and orderly manner.
Lord, You give most gifts so that You may bless others through us, and You give a few rare gifts that are primarily for our communication with You. May I always seek what is best for others and what matures my relationship with You.
Paul explained that the form of tongues where people spoke “by the Spirit” to God was good for them (in their private communications with Him) but was not a blessing to others; however, the gift of prophesy was given to bless others, so while the gift of private-tongues was good - prophesy was preferred. [Note: The form of tongues described in Acts was different in nature as it was a known language and given for the benefit of others.]
He allowed that with an interpreter one may communicate “… with a revelation, with knowledge, with prophesy, or with teaching” [using the spiritual form of tongues] but that “…in the church [among gathered believers—he specified] I [Paul] want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.”
Paul noted that a gathering of believers all speaking in spirit-tongues, visited by non-believers or the “uninformed” [immature/incompletely discipled believers], would not be edifying for believers; however, such an activity may be a sign of power, albeit confusing, to unbelievers.
He said that the same gathering filled with prophesy would “convict” the uninformed and the unbeliever, calling them “to account”. Paul explained “The secrets of his heart [the listener] are disclosed, and in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, “God is really among you.”“
Paul called for order, peace, and priorities in the gatherings of believers; a song and a lesson, very few [if any] speaking in spirit-tongues (and only when an interpreter is present), at most two or three prophets [if any] (with what they say evaluated by fellow believers), and if a revelation comes to someone they are to be heard. The goal is learning and encouragement.
He addressed the conduct of wives in fellowship gatherings, re-emphasizing his prior teaching as to wives not challenging or displacing their husbands in a public gathering but inquiring of them in privacy at home.
Paul noted that once submitted to the headship of their Christ-honoring husband [this is not about husbands in rebellion or unsaved husbands] a wife must not then presume to have headship-knowledge or unique knowledge from the Lord God.
He concluded with the reminder that his teaching would only be affirmed and understood by “a prophet or spiritual person”.
Paul communicated the Lord God’s emphasis upon what is most valuable to others and on the need for accountability for the right-use of gifts among believers.
What are the keys to Paul’s guidelines for the expression of the spiritual gifts in a fellowship gathering?
Paul’s emphasized that during fellowship gatherings the wife of a leader respect her husband and reserve comments and questions for home. He also noted that a husband who is deserving of submission must himself first be submitted to Christ.
When have you observed the misuse of spiritual gifts?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to me any place in my public worship where my practice of spiritual gifts may disrupt order and/or serve me more than others, This may include teaching where someone else has been appointed to teach, forcing myself into a role in worship music where others are meeting the need and are doing so in a more culturally-relevant way, etc.
Today I will be more-certain that my gifts are never exercised in public without accountability and evaluation. I will celebrate where God has used those gifts to bless others and mature where I may have misused the gifts in any way.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “1 Corinthians” — prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in December of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Christ’s Resurrection
15:1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, 15:2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
15:3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received—that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 15:4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, 15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 15:6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
15:8 Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 15:11 Whether then it was I or they, this is the way we preach and this is the way you believed.
No Resurrection?
15:12 Now if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 15:13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty.
15:15 Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified against God that he raised Christ from the dead, when in reality he did not raise him, if indeed the dead are not raised. 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised.
15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins.
15:18 Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished.
15:19 For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.
15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
15:21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man.
15:22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
15:23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him.
15:24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power. 15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
15:26 The last enemy to be eliminated is death.
15:27 For he has put everything in subjection under his feet. But when it says “everything” has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include the one who put everything in subjection to him.
15:28 And when all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.
15:29 Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are they baptized for them?
15:30 Why too are we in danger every hour? 15:31 Every day I am in danger of death! This is as sure as my boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord.
15:32 If from a human point of view I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what did it benefit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.
15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 15:34 Sober up as you should, and stop sinning! For some have no knowledge of God—I say this to your shame!
The Resurrection Body
15:35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 15:36 Fool! What you sow will not come to life unless it dies. 15:37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare seed—perhaps of wheat or something else. 15:38 But God gives it a body just as he planned, and to each of the seeds a body of its own.
15:39 All flesh is not the same: People have one flesh, animals have another, birds and fish another.
15:40 And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. The glory of the heavenly body is one sort and the earthly another.
15:41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars, for star differs from star in glory.
15:42 It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.
15:43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 15:44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
15:45 So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living person”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
15:46 However, the spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.
15:47 The first man is from the earth, made of dust; the second man is from heaven.
15:48 Like the one made of dust, so too are those made of dust, and like the one from heaven, so too those who are heavenly.
15:49 And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, let us also bear the image of the man of heaven.
15:50 Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
15:51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—15:52 in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
15:53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
15:54 Now when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will happen,
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
15:55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
15:58 So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Lord, Your gift of salvation is both necessary and unique. May I not question Your means but rather celebrate Your grace.
Paul reminded his readers that they must hold fast to his teaching that Christ not only came as the Biblically-prophesied redeemer but He both died and was resurrected - for without the resurrection He accomplished nothing that could alter their eternal destinies as sinners hopelessly condemned.
Paul continued his argument by using two illustrations; the first is that Jesus will return as the One Who conquered death and will then remove the Enemy and finally turn His “Church” over to the Father, in this Paul wants them to see that the resurrection is critical to the power of Christ to save.
The second illustration is the odd practice of some in Corinth who practiced substitutionary—baptisms for the dead—to publicly affirm their confessions of faith while living.
[Note: One may not be baptized for another as a substitutionary act of obedience nor may one do so to cause the retroactive salvation of another. Such an absurd notion is reportedly part of the Mormon cult practices.]
In this second case Paul again notes that baptism merely symbolizes the death and resurrection of Christ and the saved persons agreement to themselves die to the world and surrender to the Lordship of Christ here and in Heaven.
Paul reminded them that without the resurrection the Christian faith is empty and everything sacrificed due to it is wasted - people may as well have partied until they died as they had not and could not be redeemed from their sins.
Paul addressed a point of confusion about the resurrection as it applied to the physical body; first he noted the fundamental difference between humans and the rest of “fleshy” creation, humans are unique, animals are unique, birds and fish are unique, second he noted that our human form will be replaced with an immortal and imperishable spiritual form.
Death is powerless.
There is an obvious silliness to the practice of “baptism in place on behalf of the dead” —it displays the eccentricities some people impose upon the clear and simple message of Christ.
Would it not be folly to surrendering ones worldly-life for the sacrificial-life of a genuine Christian faith unless one was assured of the saving power of the resurrection?
The bodies of humankind (beginning with Adam and Eve) came first and then the Lord God added a spirit. At the resurrection our spirits will be preserved but our bodies will be replaced.
Describe your baptism and your voluntary surrender, death-like, to everything of this fallen- world in exchange for Christ-alone.
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of one especially powerful moment where the He touched you and reminded you of His presence.
Today I will share my faith-testimony with one or more other Christians, including my baptism experience and highlights of my early walk with Christ.
A Collection to Aid Jewish Christians
16:1 With regard to the collection for the saints, please follow the directions that I gave to the churches of Galatia: 16:2 On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside some income and save it to the extent that God has blessed you, so that a collection will not have to be made when I come. 16:3 Then, when I arrive, I will send those whom you approve with letters of explanation to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 16:4 And if it seems advisable that I should go also, they will go with me.
Paul’s Plans to Visit
16:5 But I will come to you after I have gone through Macedonia—for I will be going through Macedonia—16:6 and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you can send me on my journey, wherever I go. 16:7 For I do not want to see you now in passing, since I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows. 16:8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 16:9 because a door of great opportunity stands wide open for me, but there are many opponents.
16:10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I am too. 16:11 So then, let no one treat him with contempt. But send him on his way in peace so that he may come to me. For I am expecting him with the brothers.
16:12 With regard to our brother Apollos: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was simply not his intention to come now. He will come when he has the opportunity.
Final Challenge and Blessing
16:13 Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong. 16:14 Everything you do should be done in love.
16:15 Now, brothers and sisters, you know about the household of Stephanus, that as the first converts of Achaia, they devoted themselves to ministry for the saints. I urge you 16:16 also to submit to people like this, and to everyone who cooperates in the work and labors hard.
16:17 I was glad about the arrival of Stephanus, Fortunatus, and Achaicus because they have supplied the fellowship with you that I lacked. 16:18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours. So then, recognize people like this.
16:19 The churches in the province of Asia send greetings to you. Aquila and Prisca greet you warmly in the Lord, with the church that meets in their house. 16:20 All the brothers and sisters send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
16:21 I, Paul, send this greeting with my own hand.
16:22 Let anyone who has no love for the Lord be accursed. Our Lord, come!
16:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
16:24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.
Lord, You send Your instruments of the gospel where You choose them to labor, and You bless obedience while You do not bless disobedience. May I be ready to serve, careful to pursue obedience, and receive the Holy Spirit’s wisdom to recognize the difference.
Paul referenced a voluntary collection for the fellowship at Jerusalem. [Note: This is gift-giving, not tithe-related.]
Paul reminded them to do all things in love, as he had previously described in his letter, and to welcome those who come to serve them.
He encouraged them to “Stay alert” to threats to the true teaching [a warning he had previously given in greater detail], to “stand firm in the faith”, to “show courage” [a step beyond having courage is to demonstrate evidence of it], and to be strong.
In verse 16:19 Paul made specific reference to Aquila and Prisca and “the church” [fellowship of believers] “that meets in their house”.
[Note: To this point there has been no positive reference in the NT to fellowship resources such as buildings, staff, or to elaborate local or associational/denominational dogma.]
Paul challenged us to "do all things in love". What would that look like in your life? What might it change?
There are threats to Biblical truth that we have all experienced or observed in fellowships, or in books and media represented as “Christian”, but which are not Biblical-Christian. How does that bad teaching cause confusion and conflict?
There are examples of “standing firm” (e.g. against pressures to go along to get along with the world instead of living as God teaches), showing the courage which we receive from the Holy Spirit (e.g. speaking boldly for Christ, in an appropriate context, even when it may make some people uncomfortable), and being strong (even when others panic).
When have you experienced a small group and/or a home-based fellowship? How did that increased-level of intimacy contribute to your growth as a mature believer and deepen your ability to know and to be known, to care and to be cared for by fellow believers?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you struggle to "do all things in love".
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me to change. It may be my attitude toward a certain person, the way I approach politics or sports, a tendency to hold people at a distance, a too-shy or too-bold style which keeps me from speaking truth when I should (which is unloving as it allows people to remain in darkness) or prompts me to cross boundaries and bully or displace others inappropriately, or some other unloving characteristic or habit.
Salutation
1:1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia. 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Thanksgiving for God’s Comfort
1:3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 1:4 who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
1:5 For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you.
1:6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer.
1:7 And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort.
1:8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living. 1:9 Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.
1:10 He delivered us from so great a risk of death, and he will deliver us. We have set our hope on him that he will deliver us yet again, 1:11 as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many.
Paul Defends His Changed Plans
1:12 For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God—not by human wisdom but by the grace of God—we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.
1:13 For we do not write you anything other than what you can read and also understand. But I hope that you will understand completely 1:14 just as also you have partly understood us, that we are your source of pride just as you also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1:15 And with this confidence I intended to come to you first so that you would get a second opportunity to see us, 1:16 and through your help to go on into Macedonia and then from Macedonia to come back to you and be helped on our way into Judea by you. 1:17 Therefore when I was planning to do this, I did not do so without thinking about what I was doing, did I? Or do I make my plans according to mere human standards so that I would be saying both “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time?
1:18 But as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who was proclaimed among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but it has always been “Yes” in him. 1:20 For every one of God’s promises are “Yes” in him; therefore also through him the “Amen” is spoken, to the glory we give to God.
1:21 But it is God who establishes us together with you in Christ and who anointed us, 1:22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.
Why Paul Postponed His Visit
1:23 Now I appeal to God as my witness, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth. 1:24 I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm.
Lord, You are the one true God and You give us comfort, deliverance from danger, and purpose in Your service. May I rest in Your comfort, be bold knowing that You are with me, and encouraged that You choose to use me—in my obedience—for Your good purposes.
Paul celebrated the blessedness of the Lord Who comforts those who suffer - for His name - so that they may in turn comfort others who suffer.
He illustrated with his own experience —reaching the point where he “despaired even of living” but that God comforted and delivered him -- he then solicited their prayers that God would again deliver him.
Paul emphasized that it was he-alone (not the Lord God) who had communicated an intention to come to them but that he found his course altered by God. [He wanted to leave no opportunity for the Enemy to misrepresent the facts and thereby create doubt as to the perfect record of God’s promise-keeping.]
Paul appealed to God to assure them in the Spirit that he was being fully honest with them about his desire to visit and his valid reason to postpone that visit.
The pure heart of Paul. He was intentionally-careful to assure that nothing imperfect in him could be imposed upon the perfection of God in the minds of those over whom God had given him spiritual authority.
How many times can you recall, in the Bible and reported by people whom you know, that the Lord God has comforted His children in times of trouble?
Paul’s certainty was remarkable - that the Lord God Who had comforted and delivered Him in the past would do so again and his intentional-request for the believers in Corinth to pray in-agreement - so they might share in God’s miracle for Paul.
When have you, or someone you know well, experienced God’s comfort and delivery from a time of trouble?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of His provision of comfort and deliverance in your life.
Today I will share the story of God’s comfort and delivery in my life with a fellow believer as a means of celebration and encouragement.
2:1 So I made up my own mind not to pay you another painful visit. 2:2 For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad but the one I caused to be sad?
2:3 And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came I would not have sadness from those who ought to make me rejoice, since I am confident in you all that my joy would be yours.
2:4 For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know the love that I have especially for you.
2:5 But if anyone has caused sadness, he has not saddened me alone, but to some extent (not to exaggerate) he has saddened all of you as well.
2:6 This punishment on such an individual by the majority is enough for him, 2:7 so that now instead you should rather forgive and comfort him. This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair.
2:8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.
2:9 For this reason also I wrote you: to test you to see if you are obedient in everything.
2:10 If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him—for indeed what I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ, 2:11 so that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes).
2:12 Now when I arrived in Troas to proclaim the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord had opened a door of opportunity for me,
2:13 I had no relief in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye to them and set out for Macedonia.
Apostolic Ministry
2:14 But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place.
2:15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing—2:16 to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?
2:17 For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, but we are speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God.
Lord, You walked with Adam and Eve, spoke to Noah and Jacob, gave the Law to Israel via Moses, proclaimed the coming of the Messiah via Isaiah and John the Baptist, came in human form as Jesus the Christ, and when He returned Home You indwelt believes as the Holy Spirit. It has always been You showing us the way Home from the Fall, You empowering human leaders to exhort and to teach, and You Who transforms us from death to life. May I gift You all of the glory and all of myself.
Paul further explained that he wanted to avoid a second visit where his need to challenge them to deal with extreme sin in their fellowship might harm their sense of joy in the Lord and damage his relationship with them.
Paul reminded them that their obedience “in everything” required them to offer forgiveness to the member who had sinned so blatantly so as to not cause him grief which could lead to “despair”.
Paul added an odd and incompletely explained parenthetical in 2:12-13 where he acknowledges a provision from the Lord of “a door of opportunity” in Troas “to proclaim the gospel of Christ” yet due to the absence of Titus he “had no relief in his spirit” and thus moved on to Macedonia. [It is reasonable to speculate that he may have been paralleling his experience of longing for the positive encouragement of a brother (for affirmation) to that of the fellowship in Corinth struggling due to the failed visit of Paul. It may also be that there was some cultural affirmation of his call to minister in Troas that could come through Titus and not directly to Paul alone. Recall Jesus’ instruction to the disciples that should they not be welcomed in a town they should move on as the Holy Spirit had not yet prepared it.]
Paul concluded with a celebration that those who are “speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God” are a “sweet aroma of Christ to God” in the midst of the saved and the unsaved alike.
The challenge of Paul was to be obedient to God in all things, not just the comfortable or convenient, but in all things.
Isn’t it an amazing presence of the Lord God through His Holy Spirit that when a person speaks so purely from the Word of God, not in style but in integrity of content and life-example, that they are a "sweet aroma of Christ to God"?
How would you decide when discipline and "putting-out" an unrepentant sinner had been concluded and you would deliver forgiveness without any confusion that about the intent of the fellowship; that it was in no way downplaying or endorsing the seriousness of unrepentant sin?
When have you had an experience where you’d planned a challenging ministry outreach, and believed that God had prepared it, but the absence of a partner in that ministry caused you to hesitate and/or postpone?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one area where you have chosen comfort or convenience over obedience to God
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me for the strength and persistence to take a new step toward maturity in my walk.
A Living Letter
3:1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? We don’t need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we?
3:2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone, 3:3 revealing that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of human hearts.
3:4 Now we have such confidence in God through Christ.
3:5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 3:6 who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
The Greater Glory of the Spirit’s Ministry
3:7 But if the ministry that produced death—carved in letters on stone tablets—came with glory, so that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses because of the glory of his face (a glory which was made ineffective), 3:8 how much more glorious will the ministry of the Spirit be?
3:9 For if there was glory in the ministry that produced condemnation, how much more does the ministry that produces righteousness excel in glory!
3:10 For indeed, what had been glorious now has no glory because of the tremendously greater glory of what replaced it.
3:11 For if what was made ineffective came with glory, how much more has what remains come in glory!
3:12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we behave with great boldness, 3:13 and not like Moses who used to put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from staring at the result of the glory that was made ineffective.
3:14 But their minds were closed. For to this very day, the same veil remains when they hear the old covenant read. It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away.
3:15 But until this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds, 3:16 but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.
3:18 And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Lord, You replace he Law with Grace. May I praise You with my life for that freedom.
Paul observed that he no longer required a letter of reference since the very existence of a fellowship of believers in Corinth, the fruits of his faithful service to God, was his living reference. [The Net translator’s Notes speculate that this was in response to some apparent challenge to his credentials.]
The “new covenant” was not, Paul reminded them, a new law (“for the letter kills”) it was of “the Spirit [Who] brings life”.
Paul reminded them that Moses bore a shadow of the glory of God when he returned from the mountain and his ministry, the bringing of the Law, also possessed Glory. He elaborated that such glory faded as it was associated with the conviction of the Law—which none but Jesus could ever have kept perfectly. Paul then compared it to the “ministry of the Spirit” —which replaced the ineffectiveness of the Law with “the ministry that produces righteousness”.
He observed that the same veil that Moses bore to keep the Israelites from staring at his shining face, rather to focus them on the Law, is like the veil on the hearts of those who hear the words of Moses yet fail to see Christ in them.
Paul concluded, noting that the presence of the Spirit [in every true believer] transformed one from the glory of the promise given to Moses into the fulfillment of that promise in Christ.
The credentials of Paul are found in the testimony of those whom God had drawn near in salvation and discipleship as a result of his faithful service.
How do you explain to someone considering-Christ, or a new (or stuck at new) believer the amazing transition from pre-resurrection to post-resurrection where God delivered His new covenant of grace - displacing the old covenant of law?
Freedom from the convicting and impossible-to-achieve challenge of the Law into the completing and freedom-bringing blessing of grace is an incredible gift of the Lord God.
Your experience of being "veiled" from a full appreciation of, and empowerment by, the Lord God—which comes only from salvation and the indwelling Holy Spirit. What happened when you finally surrendered and received the gift of salvation?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of your experience of transition from “veiled” to “seeing clearly” as a result of your salvation.
Today I will share with a potential believer, via E-mail (or other electronic communication), letter, phone call, or face-to-face conversation, my experience of transition from "veiled" to "seeing clearly" as a result of my salvation.
Paul’s Perseverance in Ministry
4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged.
4:2 But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.
4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, 4:4 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.
4:5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.
4:6 For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.
An Eternal Weight of Glory
4:7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.
4:8 We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; 4:9 we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, 4:10 always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body.
4:11 For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body.
4:12 As a result, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
4:13 But since we have the same spirit of faith as that shown in what has been written, “I believed; therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak.
4:14 We do so because we know that the one who raised up Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence.
4:15 For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including more and more people may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God.
4:16 Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day.
4:17 For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison
4:18 because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
Lord, You give so much to use and ask that we be careful to tell Your story truthfully, and that we be humble at all times. May I be found faithful in both.
Paul contrasted the positive virtue of faithfulness to the Word against the sin of those who engage in “shameful hidden deeds … behaving with deceptiveness … distorting the Word of God”.
He reminded them that those who are unable to perceive “the light of the glorious gospel” are those “who do not believe”, that it is God Who said “Let light shine out of darkness” Who “shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.”
Paul re-emphasized the need for humility, using the illustration of “clay jars” to describe believers [especially those who dedicate themselves to preaching and teaching Christ], and noted that “the extraordinary power belongs to God”.
Paul provided a checklist of struggles and of the Lord God’s power:
Paul observed two final things; that many more are joining in “thanksgiving … to the glory of God”, and that “our momentary, light suffering, is producing for us an eternal weight of glory”
It is an amazing truth that, despite our humble standing as like the simple clay jar of Paul’s time, God chooses to pour Himself out through us. We have a responsibility to remain humble as none of it is from us.
How should believers respond to the problem of people claiming the name of Christ and then engaging in “shameful hidden deeds … behaving with deceptiveness … distorting the Word of God”?
It is humbling to read the list Paul provided of struggles faced by serious Christians and of the provision of God.
When have you experienced the Lord God causing "light [to] shine out of darkness" through you for the benefit of another?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an example in your life from the list Paul provided of struggles faced by Christians
Today I will celebrate together with a fellow believer the awesome God who makes provision for me.
Living by Faith, Not by Sight
5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens.
5:2 For in this earthly house we groan, because we desire to put on our heavenly dwelling, 5:3 if indeed, after we have put on our heavenly house, we will not be found naked.
5:4 For we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5:5 Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.
5:6 Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord—5:7 for we live by faith, not by sight.
5:8 Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
5:9 So then whether we are alive or away, we make it our ambition to please him.
5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.
The Message of Reconciliation
5:11 Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too. 5:12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart.
5:13 For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died.
5:15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.
5:16 So then from now on we acknowledge no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know him in that way any longer.
5:17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!
5:18 And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
5:19 In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.
5:20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”
5:21 God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.
Lord, You created us to dwell in the Garden of Eden, and after the Fall destroyed that in the new Heaven and the new Earth where there is no sin and there is no temptation. May I remember that I was not made for the imperfect place and that it is right that I never feel quite at home here.
Paul challenges his readers to acknowledge their temporary physical condition in fallen bodies in a fallen world and our natural groaning for Heaven.
He reminds them that the indwelling Holy Spirit of God is a “down payment” from God upon our guaranteed place in Heaven.
He notes that once we are saved we are eternal citizens of Heaven and while here we are “absent from the Lord”, therefore we live “by faith” [in the Lord Who awaits our arrival] “not by sight” [because we cannot see Him].
He challenges his readers to “make it our ambition to please Him”, whether on earth or in Heaven, and to chose carefully what we do “while in the body”.
[Note: Paul used himself as an example in these verses and stood as a role model for those who would follow. He said as much in his instructions to the Corinthians about singleness and also when writing to Timothy and Titus.]
Paul notes that the world judges by human appearance and that he had seen Christ on the road to Damascus, but that now all believers must join him in seeing Christ and fellow believers through the eternal perspective of Heaven.
Paul wrote the following series of steps to understanding:
Paul challenged us to "make it our ambition to please Him", whether on earth or in Heaven, and to chose carefully what we do "while in the body".
How do Paul’s steps to understanding help you?
Paul’s words are encouraging—it is appropriate that we “groan” for Heaven as the new person-in-Christ that we are no longer belongs to this world, that we live by faith having not seen Christ but knowing Him through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and that we be intentional about seeing everything through the lens of Heaven and not earth.
When have you had an experience where viewing things here on earth through the lens of Heaven brought comfort and understanding where before there was fear and confusion?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a particularly challenging relationship in your life to which He wants me to apply this subset of Paul’s steps to understanding; “… the ministry of reconciliation … not counting people’s trespasses against them … the message of reconciliation”.
Today I will submit to the Holy Spirit as He walks with me through the process of reconciliation. I will share the result with a fellow believer, whom I will also ask (in advance), to pray for courage and wisdom as I do this.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “1-2 Corinthians” — prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in December of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
God’s Suffering Servants
6:1 Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 6:2 For he says, “I heard you at the acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation!
6:3 We do not give anyone an occasion for taking an offense in anything, so that no fault may be found with our ministry. 6:4 But as God’s servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses, 6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in hunger, 6:6 by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love, 6:7 by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left, 6:8 through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors, and yet true; 6:9 as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet—see!—we continue to live; as those who are scourged and yet not executed; 6:10 as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
6:11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide to you.
6:12 Our affection for you is not restricted, but you are restricted in your affections for us.
6:13 Now as a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts to us also.
Unequal Partners
6:14 Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
6:15 And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever?
6:16 And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
6:17 Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you, 6:18 and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the All-Powerful Lord.
Lord, You have drawn us near to You and indwell us through Your Holy Spirit, and so we have become eternally-separated from the world and it’s temporary Prince, Satan. May I avoid “partnerships” with unbelievers, as they cannot comprehend why I make many of the decisions that I do, and avoid “partnership” with anything that is sinful.
Paul described the sacrifices he had made to be certain that nothing in him could give cause for anyone to question his preaching and teaching of Christ.
He challenged them “… not to receive the grace of God in vain” but to accept and live in the freedom of grace and making sacrifices—so that they neither squander the gift through unrighteous living or fail to make it attractive to others.
He also challenged them “Do not become partners with those who do not believe…” because they cannot comprehend the reasons that a believer chooses righteous and sacrificial living in the absence of the Holy Spirit and His inspiration of the Word of God.
Paul ascribes great importance to an intentionally faithful witness for the presence and power of the Lord God through His Holy Spirit in a believer’s daily walk.
How might one not “…receive the grace of God in vain”? List some ways that a believer may live in grace and avoid drifting into life choices which misrepresent Christ.
Paul’s challenge was to “… not become partners with those who do not believe”, which refers to both business and romance.
When have you had an experience "partnered" with a non-believer where they simply could not comprehend your Holy Spirit-guided choices for righteousness over profit or fame or pleasure.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you drift into non-Christlike choices
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me that I accept the wisdom and strength of the Holy Spirit to repent and move toward maturity through more righteous living.
Self-Purification
7:1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that could defile the body and the spirit, and thus accomplish holiness out of reverence for God.
7:2 Make room for us in your hearts; we have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, we have exploited no one. 7:3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I told you before that you are in our hearts so that we die together and live together with you.
A Letter That Caused Sadness
7:4 I have great confidence in you; I take great pride on your behalf. I am filled with encouragement; I am overflowing with joy in the midst of all our suffering.
7:5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our body had no rest at all, but we were troubled in every way—struggles from the outside, fears from within. 7:6 But God, who encourages the downhearted, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.
7:7 We were encouraged not only by his arrival, but also by the encouragement you gave him, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your deep concern for me, so that I rejoiced more than ever.
7:8 For even if I made you sad by my letter, I do not regret having written it (even though I did regret it, for I see that my letter made you sad, though only for a short time).
7:9 Now I rejoice, not because you were made sad, but because you were made sad to the point of repentance. For you were made sad as God intended, so that you were not harmed in any way by us.
7:10 For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death.
7:11 For see what this very thing, this sadness as God intended, has produced in you: what eagerness, what defense of yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what deep concern, what punishment! In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
7:12 So then, even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, or on account of the one who was wronged, but to reveal to you your eagerness on our behalf before God.
7:13 Therefore we have been encouraged. And in addition to our own encouragement, we rejoiced even more at the joy of Titus, because all of you have refreshed his spirit. 7:14 For if I have boasted to him about anything concerning you, I have not been embarrassed by you, but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus about you has proved true as well.
7:15 And his affection for you is much greater when he remembers the obedience of you all, how you welcomed him with fear and trembling. 7:16 I rejoice because in everything I am fully confident in you.
Lord, You convict us of sin, which makes us sad due to the unease of the Holy Spirit within. May I respond with renewed vigor toward righteousness rather than sulking like Cain or Judas or even King David (before he repented because he had a teachable-heart).
Paul issues yet another call to righteous living “… let us cleanse ourselves from everything that could defile the body and spirit, and thus accomplish holiness out of reverence for God.”
He notes that while in Macedonia he was “troubled in every way--struggles from the outside, fears from within” but that the arrival of Titus and word of caring from the fellowship in Corinth encouraged him.
He also notes that his letter of challenge brought them to repentance and therefore led to maturity rather than his fear that it might have caused them to withdraw.
He describes their treatment of Titus “… you have refreshed his spirit”, followed by “… you welcomed him with fear and trembling”, an indication that they were concerned that he would find them to be making an intentional effort to live rightly before God.
Paul’s role model for leaders “… we have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, we have exploited no one.”
What things “…could defile the body and spirit” and how may one may drift into them? How does one avoid and/or escape them?
The is great power for good in the encouragement of fellow believers.
When has a word of rebuke, though hard to hear, helped you to recognize a problem and to move toward repentance?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a fellow believer who needs a word of encouragement.
Today I will encourage a fellow believer. I will also thank a fellow believer who was, in the past, the Lord God’s messenger of rebuke—and as a result I repented and became a more mature believer.
Completing the Collection for the Saints
8:1 Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, 8:2 that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. 8:3 For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, 8:4 begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints.
8:5 And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
8:6 Thus we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, so also he should complete this act of kindness for you. 8:7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you—make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too. 8:8 I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others.
8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich.
8:10 So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give, 8:11 to finish what you started, so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly, you can also complete it according to your means. 8:12 For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have. 8:13 For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality.
8:14 At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality, 8:15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
The Mission of Titus
8:16 But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you, 8:17 because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager, he is coming to you of his own accord. 8:18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel. 8:19 In addition, this brother has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help. 8:20 We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering.
8:21 For we are concerned about what is right not only before the Lord but also before men.
8:22 And we are sending with them our brother whom we have tested many times and found eager in many matters, but who now is much more eager than ever because of the great confidence he has in you. 8:23 If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; if there is any question about our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. 8:24 Therefore show them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you.
Preparing the Gift
9:1 For it is not necessary for me to write you about this service to the saints, 9:2 because I know your eagerness to help. I keep boasting to the Macedonians about this eagerness of yours, that Achaia has been ready to give since last year, and your zeal to participate has stirred up most of them. 9:3 But I am sending these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready just as I kept telling them.
9:4 For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you. 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift and not as something you feel forced to do.
9:6 My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.
9:7 Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.
9:8 And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. 9:9 Just as it is written, “He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.”
9:10 Now God who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow. 9:11 You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God, 9:12 because the service of this ministry is not only providing for the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God.
9:13 Through the evidence of this service they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharing with them and with everyone. 9:14 And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you.
9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Lord, You call upon believers to give from hearts of gratitude and love, not coerced by political or religious leaders. May I be found generous without coercion, seeking-out what are the needs, giving as Your blessing to others from the surplus You have given to me.
Paul reports the generosity of the Macedonian fellowship, even as they were impoverished, and the past generosity of the Corinthian fellowship to the Macedonians. He asks that they “… complete it according to your means”.
One may observe in this chapter the origins of a couple of elements of philosophy in the vernacular of many cultures with a historic awareness of Paul’s writing; “What goes around comes around”, and caring for the poor.
Paul discusses “equity”, not in a political-socialist construct where it is forced upon an unwilling populace by a secular authority, but in a purely voluntary way and for those with whom they shared a Christian faith.
Paul reminds them that today they are generous toward the brothers in Macedonia during their financially troubled times and tomorrow the circumstances may be reversed.
Paul notes that he has delegated oversight of the distribution of their donated funds to someone generally held in high esteem for his independence and integrity so as to prevent any cause for distrust or false accusation that could undermine the primary mission of sharing Christ.
Paul observes that God wants them to give based on a loving response to the observed necessity among their brothers and sisters in Macedonia and not begrudgingly out of an artificial sense of duty so that God may bless them and provide also for them.
A blessing comes to both the giver and the recipient when assistance is provided from a heart of love for brothers and sisters.
In what ways has caring for others, with an expectation of returned-favors distorted Paul’s message, especially in the hands of non-believers and governments?
In what ways may you and your fellowship support believers whom you know to be truly in need as you avoid diverting God’s resources to non-believers and causes that are not of Christ.
When have you given sacrificially to assist a believer, not asking to be recognized and not anticipating any worldly blessing, and God blessed you in some way that was even more than you blessed another.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a way to bless a fellow believer in need
Today I will assist a fellow-believer, asking for no recognition, seeking no reward. I will pray for them in their need that others will also come alongside.
Paul’s Authority from the Lord
10:1 Now I, Paul, appeal to you personally by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (I who am meek when present among you, but am full of courage toward you when away!)—10:2 now I ask that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that (I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behaving according to human standards.
10:3 For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments 10:5 and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.
10:6 We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
10:7 You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we.
10:8 For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.
10:9 I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters, 10:10 because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak and his speech is of no account.” 10:11 Let such a person consider this: What we say by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.
Paul’s Mission
10:12 For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.
10:13 But we will not boast beyond certain limits, but will confine our boasting according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, that reaches even as far as you. 10:14 For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.
10:15 Nor do we boast beyond certain limits in the work done by others, but we hope that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expanded among you according to our limits, 10:16 so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area.
10:17 But the one who boasts must boast in the Lord. 10:18 For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.
Lord, You call for unity and for a process of accountability and discipline among believers in fellowships, and that all is done with the recognition that You are the source of truth and the object of worship. May I encourage unity-in-truth and be unafraid to discipline those who refuse to be accountable, to confess, and to repent of sin.
Paul asked them to recognize that he had been consistent in letters and when physically present—that he had challenged them about the same matters of righteousness—and that he had done so as God has commanded, intentionally avoiding any human-based alterations to His Word.
He explained that those he needed to discipline would only be effectively disciplined when the rest of the fellowship had completed their confession and repentance and were in-agreement with the discipline. [Constable’s Notes from bible.org observes that even today there is little point to a leader attempting discipline of a member of a fellowship unless the fellowship is in-agreement.]
Paul provided a checklist for them to evaluate his methods:
Paul addressed an apparent problem with others who boasted about themselves and who were accountable only to themselves, saying “they are without understanding”.
He notes that within the area of influence assigned by God he had pressed to the edge and prayed that their maturity would result in further growth within that same area.
Paul concluded with a double challenge, that one boast only in the Lord, and that one is only approved by the Lord and never by his own claims about himself.
Paul’s instruction that “… we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ”. Every sin begins with a thought, David on the roof of the castle, Peter reacting fearfully and denying Christ, Ananias and Sapphira lying about their gift to God’s ministry.
In what ways may the Lord God use knowledge of Christ to tear down the strongholds of ignorance and arrogant human wisdom? Perhaps referring to non-Biblical religions, the zealotry of proponents of the theory of evolution, of people in fellowships who value man-made traditions over the truth of God?
There is a perplexing problem when some in leadership are arrogant and boastful yet careless with the Word of God; not only does that cause them to fail those who trust them, it also brings confusion about and shame to the name of Christ.
When have you experienced or observed a situation where a leader’s careful witness of an intentionally righteous life has reinforced their teaching of God’s Word? How that impacted your faith and walk in a positive way?
Ask the Holy Spirit to “shine a light and reveal any dark place” in my life.
Today I will take a hard look at my thought life for any dark places—as the Holy Spirit guides—then I will repent (turn away) from it/them. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement for a fearless look and a courageous response. I share with them my victory through Christ.
Paul and His Opponents
11:1 I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me! 11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
11:3 But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
11:4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus different from the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough!
11:5 For I consider myself not at all inferior to those “super-apostles.” 11:6 And even if I am unskilled in speaking, yet I am certainly not so in knowledge. Indeed, we have made this plain to you in everything in every way.
11:7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you could be exalted, because I proclaimed the gospel of God to you free of charge? 11:8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so that I could serve you! 11:9 When I was with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia fully supplied my needs. I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.
11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia. 11:11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
11:12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may eliminate any opportunity for those who want a chance to be regarded as our equals in the things they boast about. 11:13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 11:15 Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions.
Paul’s Sufferings for Christ
11:16 I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 11:17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence I do not say the way the Lord would. Instead it is, as it were, foolishness. 11:18 Since many are boasting according to human standards, I too will boast. 11:19 For since you are so wise, you put up with fools gladly.
11:20 For you put up with it if someone makes slaves of you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone behaves arrogantly toward you, if someone strikes you in the face. 11:21 (To my disgrace I must say that we were too weak for that!) But whatever anyone else dares to boast about (I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing. 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times. 11:24 Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes less one. 11:25 Three times I was beaten with a rod. Once I received a stoning. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea. 11:26 I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers from false brothers, 11:27 in hard work and toil, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, many times without food, in cold and without enough clothing. 11:28 Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern for all the churches. 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with indignation? 11:30 If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show my weakness.
11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying. 11:32 In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to arrest me, 11:33 but I was let down in a rope-basket through a window in the city wall, and escaped his hands.
Lord, You gave us life with You in the Garden of Eden—Satan manipulated Eve (then Adam) into destroying that, You gave us Jesus and His saving truth—Satan manipulated many into lying about that to confuse people, and You gave us Your Word so that we could know the difference between truth and lies. May I be a good Berean and, in with the guidance of Your Holy Spirit, check the teaching of everyone against You whole Word.
Paul took on the “false apostles”, sarcastically labeling them “super-apostles”. As he had previously warned them - believers must beware the deception of the Enemy, just as he had deceived Eve.
He noted, as he had previously, the skills of the “super-apostles” at speaking were not matched by their felicity to Christ; he declared that they taught “another Jesus … a different spirit … a different gospel” and he cautioned them to remember that “… even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
Paul wondered if maybe not requiring the Corinthians to contribute something to his support may have undermined his credibility with them, or perhaps their need for an investment in his teaching, since the “super-apostles” were accepting support and were being trusted by many. He refused to alter his no-support policy as it was a buffer against efforts to manipulate him.
He listed his many sacrifices for Christ, in order to neutralize the false worldly claims of the false apostles in their deceptive efforts to supplant him.
Paul’s admonition that we beware deceivers and that we ask the Holy Spirit to give us the discernment to root-out the subtle deceptions of smooth-talking leaders whose representation of Christ may be careless or worse.
What are some of the positives and negatives of giving - as it impacts your sense of investment in, and ownership of, the success of God’s ministry?
When has a gifted orator captured your imagination but caused you to accept something you later discovered to be untrue? How might you have better defended yourself against that false teacher or teaching?
When have you experienced a situation where someone who had sacrificed much for the ministry of Christ and was protected from false attack because of their history of faithful service?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a false teachers who needs to be exposed and expelled and a true teachers who needs to be recognized and supported.
Today I will pray for faithful leaders among believers and that the Lord God’s message will be received with new vigor. I will share a word of encouragement with one who has been especially faithful.
Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh
12:1 It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. 12:3 And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows) 12:4 was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak. 12:5 On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.
12:6 For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me, 12:7 even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me—so that I would not become arrogant. 12:8 I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.
12:10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
The Signs of an Apostle
12:11 I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
12:12 Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.
12:13 For how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!
12:14 Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
12:15 Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
12:16 But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit!
12:17 I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I? 12:18 I urged Titus to visit you and I sent our brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way? 12:19 Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.
12:20 For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me not what you wish. I am afraid that somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
12:21 I am afraid that when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.
Lord, You called and equipped and sent the apostle Paul, yet the Corinthians preferred false teachers. May I always be careful to “test the Spirit” before trusting any leader.
Paul reiterated that his boasting was only in Christ because there is no limit to the sacrifices any true Christian would make for the cause of Jesus.
He testified to the comfort and provision of God to those who trust Him - no matter what.
Paul reminded them in a third-person style that he could boast of having been taken up “to the third heaven” but noted that such would not benefit anyone and so, unlike the super-apostles, he would not.
He shared with them that God had allowed him to suffer “a thorn in the flesh … a messenger of Satan to trouble me--so I would not become arrogant” then shared “I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. But He said to me, “My grace is perfect [or perfected] in weakness … Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions, and difficulties for the sake of Christ”
Paul clarified for them that he had not been defending himself but “… speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends is to build you up.”
He expressed a concern that upon his visit there may be disappointment and conflict because they were stuck in their sin, that the Lord God might “humiliate” him in order to teach them, and that it would be his duty to discipline them.
The tension between Paul’s humility before Christ and his need to expose the false teachers though comparison of faith-walk credentials.
Isn’t the challenge of confronting believers who are stuck in sin, with the hope that they will confess and repent, and the fear that they will defend and rebel what causes many in leadership to look the other way—to avoid conflict?
Paul’s "thorn in the flesh from Satan" was not revealed in a specific form of the thorn so would remain a principle, humility, and not a distraction.
When have you experienced a situation where a thorn in your flesh was used by God to keep you from arrogance? Perhaps a visible flaw, a flaw in your speech, a flaw in your ability to master some area of learning, or a limitation on your income.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a thorn in your flesh, from which I have been pleading with God for relief, but which is your ‘humbleness-thorn’.
Today I will cease asking for relief and will instead thank Him for my ‘humbleness-thorn’. I will share this with a fellow believer.
Paul’s Third Visit to Corinth
13:1 This is the third time I am coming to visit you. By the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter will be established.
13:2 I said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone, 13:3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.
13:4 For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God’s power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God’s power toward you.
13:5 Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless, indeed, you fail the test!
13:6 And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the test! 13:7 Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, but so that you may do what is right even if we may appear to have failed the test.
13:8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth.
13:9 For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified.
13:10 Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive I may not have to deal harshly with you by using my authority—the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!
Final Exhortations and Greetings
13:11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. 13:13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
13:14 [[EMPTY]]
Lord, You are the arbiter of good and evil, right and wrong, You bless obedience and withhold blessing for disobedience, You encourage righteousness and punish unrighteousness. May I choose to live a Biblically-disciplined life so that I do not have to be-disciplined by You.
Paul predicted that his third visit would be one in which they would be without excuse and one where “I will not spare anyone since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.”
He challenged them to test themselves as possessing the presence of God though the Holy Spirit and that His power was visible in their right-living.
Paul warned them to apply what he had told them in his letter and to get themselves right before the Lord God so that when he arrived he would not have to “deal harshly” with them using his “authority” because “… the Lord gave it to me for building up, not tearing down!”
Paul concluded the final chapter of his second letter to the Corinthians with several exhortations and greetings:
And finally a prayer of blessing or “benediction”:
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
Paul’s desire that his authority from God be used to build up, yet his recognition that it may need to be used as a rod of discipline for the well-being of the fellowship. Discipline is part of the process of discipleship and if we do not discipline ourselves then the Lord God may choose to bring discipline upon us.
Why would those who were under the leadership authority of one called by the Lord God constantly challenge his authority? Did they not understand that the Lord God had empowered Paul to chastise and discipline them as necessary?
Paul’s exhortation was for them to rejoice, to set things right, to be encouraged, to agree with one another, and to live in peace.
Share your heart-reaction to Paul’s closing prayer. Does the Holy Spirit stir your spirit when you read those words?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal, from my words and deeds and heart any evidence that once agreeing to submission to the leader under whose shepherding the Lord God has placed me I am then challenging his authority and/or teaching.
Today, unless I have a Biblical cause to raise such a challenge—and I am doing so respectfully and through the proper Biblical process—I will repent of any form of rebellion and I will seek forgiveness and reconciliation.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “1-2 Corinthians” — prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in December of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Salutation
1:1 From Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead) 1:2 and all the brothers with me, to the churches of Galatia.
1:3 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 1:4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father, 1:5 to whom be glory forever and ever! Amen.
Occasion of the Letter
1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are following a different gospel—1:7 not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ.
1:8 But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell!
1:9 As we have said before, and now I say again, if any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be condemned to hell!
1:10 Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!
Paul’s Vindication of His Apostleship
1:11 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.
1:12 For I did not receive it or learn it from any human source; instead I received it by a revelation of Jesus Christ.
1:13 For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I was savagely persecuting the church of God and trying to destroy it. 1:14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my nation, and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.
1:15 But when the one who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace was pleased 1:16 to reveal his Son in me so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not go to ask advice from any human being, 1:17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me, but right away I departed to Arabia, and then returned to Damascus.
1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and get information from him, and I stayed with him fifteen days. 1:19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.
1:20 I assure you that, before God, I am not lying about what I am writing to you!
1:21 Afterward I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 1:22 But I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 1:23 They were only hearing, “The one who once persecuted us is now proclaiming the good news of the faith he once tried to destroy.” 1:24 So they glorified God because of me.
Lord, Yours is the one and only Gospel, all others are frauds designed by the enemy to deceive people to block their path to truth and to salvation. May I be faithful in sharing and teaching Your Gospel that many will be saved and then also equipped to “go forth”.
Paul greeted the fellowship of believers in Galatia emphasizing that he spoke only from God, Who “raised (him) from the dead” [dead in sin], and that it was Jesus the Christ Who sacrificed to save them from “this present evil age”
[Note: This phrase is variously understood by some to refer to the “end times”, that period of history from the ascension of Jesus to His return, and by others to the larger time-span of alienation of humankind from the Lord God - beginning with the Fall in Eden and onward to the heavenly-admission of those whose names are written in “The Lamb’s Book of Life”.
Paul chastised them for tolerating false teachings since they knew what was right from him.
He declared that any being, man or angel, who preached a gospel other than the one God had given him to give to them, should be “condemned to hell”.
Paul reminded them of his former persecution of Christians, and of the Lord God’s call that he become an ally instead.
He also explained that he was not subservient to other apostles as the Lord God had sent him to preach, and that “... they Glorified God because of me” when they heard the reports of his [Paul’s] conversion and preaching.
[Note: Paul refers to “Arabia” in 1:17. The NET translator’s Notes explain “As a geographical region Arabia included the territory west of Mesopotamia, east and south of Syria and Palestine, extending to the isthmus of Suez. During the Roman occupation, some independent kingdoms arose like that of the Nabateans south of Damascus, and these could be called simply Arabia. In light of the proximity to Damascus, this may well be the territory Paul says he visited here.”]
Why the relative ease with which believers may be lured into a faulty gospel by a clever orator?
Can an individual believer, or a body of believers, best defend themselves against false teaching through the knowledge of the Word?
The anger of the Lord God at false teachers must have been great to cause Him to instruct Paul to identify them as worthy of condemnation to hell.
When have you observed an effort made by a clever speaker to “preach another gospel”? How was a fellowship, or an individual, either led astray or able to stand on truth and overcome the deception?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you, from among the sources you trust for Biblical counsel and teaching, any that are providing deliberately-false and/or carelessly-faulty content.
Today I will Biblically-challenge anyone who is deliberately distorting the gospel and if they prove unteachable when shown their error, I will make their error known to others and I will flee their influence.
Confirmation from the Jerusalem Apostles
2:1 Then after fourteen years I went up to Jerusalem again with Barnabas, taking Titus along too. 2:2 I went there because of a revelation and presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did so only in a private meeting with the influential people, to make sure that I was not running—or had not run—in vain. 2:3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek. 2:4 Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, to make us slaves. 2:5 But we did not surrender to them even for a moment, in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.
2:6 But from those who were influential (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people)—those influential leaders added nothing to my message. 2:7 On the contrary, when they saw that I was entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised just as Peter was to the circumcised 2:8 (for he who empowered Peter for his apostleship to the circumcised also empowered me for my apostleship to the Gentiles) 2:9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who had a reputation as pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we would go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 2:10 They requested only that we remember the poor, the very thing I also was eager to do.
Paul Rebukes Peter
2:11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he had clearly done wrong.
2:12 Until certain people came from James, he had been eating with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he stopped doing this and separated himself because he was afraid of those who were pro-circumcision. 2:13 And the rest of the Jews also joined with him in this hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray with them by their hypocrisy.
2:14 But when I saw that they were not behaving consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, although you are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you try to force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Jews and Gentiles are Justified by Faith
2:15 We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, 2:16 yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
2:17 But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encourages sin? Absolutely not!
2:18 But if I build up again those things I once destroyed, I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God’s law.
2:19 For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God.
2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
2:21 I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!
Lord, You came in the form of the humankind—which You created and who rebelled against You in the Garden—in order to provide a way to reconciliation and restoration. May I remember that Your grace is offered to everyone who will repent and surrender, without regard to age, gender, national origin, race, or social status.
Paul reported that after fourteen years of ministry he traveled to Jerusalem to deal with a threat from the “Judaisers” who were attempting to impose pre-Christian Jewish rituals upon Christians.
He observed that once the leaders there understood that he had been called to the non-Jews by the very same God Who had called Peter to the Jews they became supportive.
Paul later found it necessary to rebuke Peter in front of the other leaders for drifting into the camp of the Judaisers out of fear and the influence of James.
Paul instructed them all that one is justified in Christ alone, to add anything whatsoever to that is to question the faithfulness of Christ and makes one guilty again before the law.
Paul wrote “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!”
Peter suffered a chronic weakness, the fear of fellow man, which caused him to make bad choices as a leader. This was in contrast to the consistent strength of Paul who was steadfast in obedience to Christ no matter the cost.
What are some attitudes, habits, and traditions in your fellowship that distract members from focus on Christ, or even worse, that directly contradict Biblical teaching? Who is promoting them and why are the leaders not intervening effectively?
What do Paul's words "I have been crucified with Christ …" mean to you?
When have you had the experience that your growth in Christ was blocked or slowed by non-Biblical attitudes, habits, and/or traditions in a family or fellowship? Once you were set free from those distractions how did the Holy Spirit bless you with growth?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to your a place where you are distracted or deceived into wrong thinking due to non-Biblical attitudes, habits, and/or traditions.
Today I will repent of any part I have had in tolerating those distractions and/or deceptions and if I cannot cause a change I will seek a more Biblically-faithful fellowship.
Justification by Law or by Faith?
3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified!
3:2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?
3:3 Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort? 3:4 Have you suffered so many things for nothing?—if indeed it was for nothing.
3:5 Does God then give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard?
3:6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, 3:7 so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham.
3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.”
3:9 So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer.
3:10 For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.”
3:11 Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith.
3:12 But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them.
3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) 3:14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.
Inheritance Comes from Promises and not Law
3:15 Brothers and sisters, I offer an example from everyday life: When a covenant has been ratified, even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it.
3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture does not say, “and to the descendants,” referring to many, but “and to your descendant,” referring to one, who is Christ.
3:17 What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise. 3:18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise.
3:19 Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant to whom the promise had been made. It was administered through angels by an intermediary.
3:20 Now an intermediary is not for one party alone, but God is one.
3:21 Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.
3:22 But the scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given—because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ—to those who believe.
Lord, You promised Adam and Eve a redeemer, and you promised the same to Abraham. You gave the law as a step to Your Redeemer, a convicting-tool, as You kept Your promise to Adam and Eve and Abraham.
Paul chastised the Galatians further, challenging them to answer if they had received the Holy Spirit as a result of the law or grace.
He continued his challenge, asking “… you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort?”
Paul reminded them everyone who fails to complete every letter of the law without a single failure is condemned by the law, but Abraham was blessed because he believed, therefore all who believe are co-heirs to the blessing promised the “sons of Abraham”.
He reinforced his point by reminding them that “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).
Paul gave them a history lesson, noting that the law came 430 years after God’s promise and did not apply to the One [the promise specified a singular descendant—because He would keep it perfectly as the God-Man] and Who would thereby have the right to claim the promise on behalf of those who would believe, repent, and surrender.
He did note that the purpose of the law was to separate arrogant and rebellious people from any notion that they could earn their salvation nor that they possessed any special standing before the Lord God that could empower them to bypass His unyielding qualifications for entry into Heaven.
[Note: It was for relationship that the Lord God created mankind and while it was a “law” that Adam and Eve violated - the consequence was a breach of relationship due to their failure to “believe” the Lord God over the lies of the Serpent. Therefore, felicity to the law could not be sufficient to restore the broken relationship; only a genuine-belief that includes absolute surrender to the Lordship of Christ is necessary, which is what Jesus provided via the Cross, resurrection and ascension.]
The purpose of the law and the folly of those who, because of fear and tradition, who tried to reinstate it after Jesus had granted them the grace of their salvation. [Could this be what was intended by “Blaspheming the Holy Spirit and/or “another gospel?”]
Humankind has a long pattern of attempting to arrogantly declare parity with the Lord God, that was at the heart of the serpent’s deception in the Garden, it was the sin of the builders of the Tower of Babel, it was in the rebellion against Moses by the Israelites, and it was the sin of the religious leaders in Jesus’ time. Setting up “works” to earn salvation was a scheme to pretend to declare himself worthy though mere human effort.
The Lord God’s longing has been to restore a right-relationship with His creation. One Lord God, one Redeemer, one path to salvation.
When have you experienced a circumstance where someone in a fellowship attempted to impose a human “law” upon believers saved by grace. What was the result?
Ask the Holy Spirit to search my attitudes and habits for any evidence that I am living as though my salvation depends upon anything other than belief in and submission to Jesus.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me for complete repentance and to walk with me through reconciliation to a purely Biblical faith walk.
Sons of God Are Heirs of Promise
3:23 Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed.
3:24 Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith.
3:25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
3:26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.
3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female—for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.
4:1 Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. 4:2 But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 4:3 So also we, when we were minors, were enslaved under the basic forces of the world.
4:4 But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 4:5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights.
4:6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father!”
4:7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God.
Lord, You provided the 'container' of the Law to show us that we were dependent upon You and how we must live so that we could be in right-relationship with You, but Jesus the Christ came and brought us saving-grace and we are no longer law-keeping works-righteousness people but children of grace who obey in loving gratefulness. May my heart be continually-reminded that everything that has value comes from You and is a gift to me for which my right-choices are my thanks to You.
Paul concluded Chapter 3 with a reiteration of the obliteration of worldly boundaries among believers “There is neither Jew or Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female—for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
In the first seven verses of Chapter 4 Paul used the illustration of a minor child or a slave under the authority of another to describe God-sensitive people prior to their opportunity for salvation—they awaited the Lord God’s determination of the perfect time for Jesus to come.
He then concluded that we become “sons” into whom God sent “the Spirit of his Son into our hearts” so that we became “heirs through God”.
Paul’s teaching that the Lord God watches over those who have hearts sensitive toward Him, hearts that respond to truth.
How is your life different from what it was prior to salvation? What it was that the Lord God touched in you to prompt your acceptance of His lordship and your surrender of everything else?
God's multiple repetitions through Jesus, Paul, and others of His obliteration of boundaries between Jews and non-Jews, slaves and free men, males and females as applies to His family of believers.
What does it mean to you to be considered a “son” [or “child”] or God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a specific person who has been considering-Christ and whose heart He has prepared to repent of their sin, reject the things of this world, and to accept the Lordship of Christ.
Today I will pray earnestly for the one whom the Holy Spirit has identified, they will take the final step to eternity in perfection with God, and if-appropriate that He will allow me to be His instrument in leading them through a clear commitment and some of their early steps of discipleship (baptism, learning, participation).
Heirs of Promise Are Not to Return to Law
4:8 Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all.
4:9 But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless basic forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?
4:10 You are observing religious days and months and seasons and years. 4:11 I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain. 4:12 I beg you, brothers and sisters, become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!
Personal Appeal of Paul
4:13 But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the gospel to you, 4:14 and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, as though I were Christ Jesus himself!
4:15 Where then is your sense of happiness now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me!
4:16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
4:17 They court you eagerly, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly. 4:18 However, it is good to be sought eagerly for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you.
4:19 My children—I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you! 4:20 I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice, because I am perplexed about you.
An Appeal from Allegory
4:21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand the law?
4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 4:23 But one, the son by the slave woman, was born by natural descent, while the other, the son by the free woman, was born through the promise.
4:24 These things may be treated as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.
4:25 Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
4:26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 4:27 For it is written:
“Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children; break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains, because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband.”
4:28 But you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise like Isaac.
4:29 But just as at that time the one born by natural descent persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so it is now.
4:30 But what does the scripture say? “Throw out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the son” of the free woman.
4:31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.
Lord, You have made freedom from the enemy and the Law possible, and You have taught us all about that through Your Gospel. Only the gift of eternal spiritual salvation through Christ can save anyone. May I be faithful to Your Word and never accept anything but Your Gospel.
Paul warned the Galatians to not drift back into the worship of, therefore slavery to, powerless idols.
He reminded them that he had become a child of the Lord God the same as they and appealed to them to not abandon the blessings of faithfulness to God.
Paul reminded them that he arrived with a physical impairment but rather than “despise or reject” him, they instead “welcomed me as though I were an angel of God”. [Verse 4:15b implies a vision problem.]
He noted that those who were trying to “recruit” the believers were doing so “for no good purpose”, that he was “again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed” in them, and that he was “perplexed about” them.
Paul concluded with an allegory from the two women who bore Abraham children, Hagar the slave woman, and his wife, Sarah.
He asked them to view Hagar as representing those who are enslaved to the world and her naturally-conceived (she was young and fertile) and birthed son representing those who harass believers.
He asked them to view Sarah as representing those whose “son” (or children) was (were) born of a miracle of God (she was elderly and not fertile), as a promise-kept, and as the target of the persecution of the God-resistant natural world.
The temptation for Christians to drift back into old patterns of bad choices and bad thinking is not new.
What are some ways that believers may resist the temptation to back slide?
Paul’s allegory is a valuable tool to help people to understand the fundamental gap between believers and non-believers.
When have you experienced a situation where someone entered your fellowship and attempted to recruit believers into a non-Biblical doctrine and/or lifestyle. What happened?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a believer who needs to confessed to you, and Him, that they are struggling against the temptation to back slide in some area.
Today I will commit to pray in agreement with that believer that they will allow the Holy Spirit to be their strength.
Freedom of the Believer
5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.
5:2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all! 5:3 And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.
5:4 You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace! 5:5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness. 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight—the only thing that matters is faith working through love.
5:7 You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth?
5:8 This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you!
5:9 A little yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise!
5:10 I am confident in the Lord that you will accept no other view. But the one who is confusing you will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.
5:11 Now, brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 5:12 I wish those agitators would go so far as to castrate themselves!
Practice Love
5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.
5:14 For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”
5:15 However, if you continually bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.
5:16 But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.
5:17 For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want.
5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, 5:21 envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!
5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
5:24 Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.
5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.
Lord, You have given so much to us, yet we often look everywhere but You for value. May I be intentional in my daily pursuit of Your approval and to make myself a useful instrument of Your ministry in this lost ad dying world.
“For freedom Christ has set us free.” In a phrase Paul defined his plea to the Galatians. He then warned those who choose the legalistic path of the Judaisers that their choice created an obligation on their part to keep the whole law and to live apart from the blessings of Christ.
Paul challenged them to recognize that those who had been trying to lead them away from the freedom of grace and back to the slavery of the law were agitators and were not sent from God.
He was so angry that he declared that those calling for the legalistic requirement of circumcision for new believers, especially applied to Gentiles, should castrate themselves [Paul was being sarcastic, since castration would have been a physiological amplification of circumcision, therefore should be what they should do as a works-righteousness gesture].
Paul calls upon the Galatians to turn instead toward loving one another and reminded them “... to live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.”
[Note: The Bible elsewhere states that it is impossible for one to have the Holy Spirit and to not show “the fruit of the Spirit.”]
He declared that “... the works of the flesh are obvious”
He reminded them that such unrepentant sinfulness defined them prior to salvation and that those who continued to be so defined were obviously not saved and “... will not inherit the kingdom of God!”
Paul then listed for them to corollary, those things that were evidence of the truly-saved person, one in whom the Holy Spirit indwelt:
“... the fruit of the Spirit is …
He concluded with a warning against believers becoming “... conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.”
Compare and contrast, the list of “the works of the flesh” and “the fruit of the Spirit”.
What is the power that “living in love” gives to believers to resist the efforts of evil-doers to lead astray?
Why is there a problem within, or between, fellowships with believers becoming “... conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another”?
When have you experienced “the works of the flesh” causing you to struggle? How has the Holy Spirit led you instead to be a vessel of positive “fruit”?
Ask the Holy Spirit to identify an item from "the works of the flesh" list which defines some part of your life.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me as I partner with the Holy Spirit to purge “the works of the flesh” from my life.
Support One Another
6:1 Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.
6:2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
6:3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
6:4 Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else. 6:5 For each one will carry his own load.
6:6 Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it.
6:7 Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, 6:8 because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 6:9 So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.
6:10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.
Final Instructions and Benediction
6:11 See what big letters I make as I write to you with my own hand!
6:12 Those who want to make a good showing in external matters are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.
6:13 For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh.
6:14 But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
6:15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation! 6:16 And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God.
6:17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.
6:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
Lord, You call us into a believing community for accountability, discipleship, encouragement, and support—it is in our best interest in this world and for our right-relationship with You. May I invest in building a healthy community-relationship with fellow Biblical-Christians.
Paul provided the Galatians with a Biblical philosophy to manage those “... discovered in some sin”, he provided a checklist:
Paul instructed them to “... share all good things” with the one who teaches [accurately] the Word of God.
He warned them that one who “... sows to his own flesh” is either selfish, or pretends to be a trustworthy teacher but who is more interested in money and prestige, therefore will be seen to only “... reap from the flesh”.
Paul contrasted that with one who “... sows to the Spirit receives eternal life”, then encouraged to not “grow weary” and to not “give up” doing good [as defined by the Bible, not man]
He included an odd parenthetical, not unique for Paul, where he observed that his handwriting forms “big letters”. He has made reference elsewhere to others writing for him. [Note: One may speculate that this comment may either underline the prior inference of poor vision or suggest another ailment as a result of beatings, illnesses, or age. There is nothing in the text that supports any hidden spiritual meaning.]
Paul returned to his warning against the Judaisers, noting that they demand circumcision for new believers so that they may brag about them [as a salesman brags of new sales] but that while these men are circumsized they fail to live according to the law [so how important could the law be to them after all.
Paul also observed a second motive, fear of persecution from the majority Judaisers.
Paul proclaimed again that circumcision or uncircumcision is nothing, that all that matters if the “new creation”.
He concluded his letter instructing them “no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body”, and a prayer:
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. “Amen.”
No matter how Consider Paul's additional signposts for a false teacher; they are focused on money and prestige and their fruit is found in the flesh.
What are some practical implementations of Paul’s checklist for dealing with a brother or sister in sin? What is the difference between the instruction to “6:2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” and “6:5 For each one will carry his own load.”?
What does Paul’s admonition that we “not grown weary in doing good” mean to a Biblical Christian?
When have you observed an example of a leader within a fellowship who was more concerned about numeric growth than spiritual growth, personal profit or prestige, and/or pleasing men to avoid criticism or other threats. What was the result?
Ask the Holy Spirit to identify an area where You are feeling weary in need prayer and words of encouragement and someone whom He has prepared to walk alongside you for a time.
Today I will humbly allow a fellow believer to pray for and to encourage me from the Word and I will later share with them how it made a real difference.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study—Section 2 of the series, “Acts”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in October of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
According to one chronological list of New Testament book Ephesians appears after Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, James, Galatians, Thessalonians, Corinthians, Romans, Philemon, and Colossians and prior to 1Timothy, Titus, 1 Peter, Hebrews, 2 Timothy, Jude, 2, Peter, 1-3 John, and Revelation.
This is relevant because prior to the church in Ephesus receiving Paul’s letter there was significant awareness of texts preceding Ephesians, texts circulated by taking advantage of the Roman mails and traveling routes, and frequently passed from church (a gathering of Believers) to church and read aloud. The texts following Ephesians, yet to be authored and distributed, were built upon Old Testament prophesies and those of Jesus while in the flesh.
According to many Biblical scholars, the book of Ephesians appears not to have been uniquely written to the church in Ephesus. Ephesians gained it’s identification with Ephesus because theirs is believed to be the first church to receive this letter and because there were multiple copies found there (which indicates the intent of the church in Ephesus to distribute the letter). Regardless, the intended audience is clearly that of all believers everywhere.
Understanding some key definitions in the Bible helps in understanding the book of Ephesians:
Understanding key descriptive Biblical names and terms helps to understand Ephesians:
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Ephesians”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in October of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Salutation
1:1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints [in Ephesus], the faithful in Christ Jesus. 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Lord, Your Word affirms itself, clarifying important concepts, reminding us of the reality of and reason for Your Gospel. May I never forget that You are the Lord God, that You call me a “saint” because You have redeemed me and will make me holy prior to Heaven, and that I owe it all to You.
In the first chapter of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul reminded the Church of the glory and promises of God and what that means to all Believers
Paul began by identifying himself as an “apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God” then reminded his readers that they also are “saints ... the faithful” through the same blessing of God. [Note: His readers would have known the story of how Paul was converted from a destroyer of Christians to their most zealous advocate (Acts 9:-18), so the model of turning away from one belief system and accepting a new one unconditionally was not entirely new to them.]
Paul communicated a couple of interesting points that are easily overlooked; when he wrote “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
He intentionally wrote “grace” to remind the believers that they were no longer under the law as to eternal judgment and “peace” in order to clarify further that the war between their former rebellious selves and the Holy God is over.
Paul also added “... and the Lord Jesus Christ” in an apparent reminder of our subjection and debt to Jesus to make the “Grace and peace” possible.
The Lord God’s incredible gift—the truth that accepting God’s grace in the places of our lives where we’d be most ashamed to have Jesus in-the-flesh present is a first step to understanding grace—He already knows, and although we must never imagine that He endorses our sin, grace means that He still loves us!
How do we meet the challenge of living here in our still-fallen flesh, assured of Heaven with bodies and minds made pure, yet struggling daily to press away the things that would drag us down?
The Lord God’s love-name for us is “saints”, because we have chosen to be among the faithful, trusting His truth, and surrendering to His perfectly-loving Lordship.
What is one example of the chasm of the person you were before Christ and the person you are now?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of one specific example where knowing that His truth empowered you to resist a former pattern of cycling down into depression or escalating up to worse sin—choosing instead confession, repentance (turning away), forgiveness, and restoration—freedom!
Today I will I will share with a fellow believer the amazing freedom that comes from knowing that despite my imperfections in the flesh I am loved by God and guaranteed freedom from imperfection and sin for eternity with Him in Heaven.
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
1:3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.
1:4 For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love.
1:5 He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will—1:6 to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son.
Lord, You promised Adam and Eve, and later Abraham, that You would send a redeemer. You said that the Redeemer would make salvation possible for everyone. You taught through the Law that Your standard was a high one—absolute surrender—and Jesus taught that salvation through grace was an offered-gift to those who chose to accept it. May I never imagine that I have earned my salvation, nor that it has been imposed-upon me [there is no Biblical teaching that anyone is “born saved”], but that You reveal Yourself to every member of humankind and each must make an eternal choice.
God blesses us by predestining (creating the conditions for) all who surrender this world and who accept the gift of Heaven through Christ—to an eternity freed from imperfection and restoration to the Edenic condition.
Paul emphasized that our standing before God in an “unblemished” state is a result of His loving provision through Christ whose sacrifice for us removed our imperfections.
He walk his readers through the following steps of understanding (first part):
vs. 1:4 He (the Lord God) chose us based on a pre-established set of conditions, “...in Christ”.
vs. 1:5 He (the Lord God) predestined us to adoption as His (God’s) “sons”—if we meet the conditions referenced in 1:4. [Note: This is more than legal standing as in His (God’s) family but would have been understood to mean for both male and female alike the full rights of a loved child and one who benefits from all of the blessings and rights thereof.]
Notes:
Fellowship between God and man is not described here, nor even in pre-Fall Eden (Gen. 1-3), all that is described is the provision of a redeemer and the boundaries for redemption set by Him.
Even as some New Testament texts address fellowship between God and man (e.g. 1 Cor. 1:9, 1 John 1:3) it is moreso of our fellowship with Christ via His provision of salvation and therefore certainty of joining Him in Heaven.
Even Eph. 1:5 where Paul described our status as “inheritors” he still did not mention affection or casual fellowship between man and God in Heaven.
When we look for a sense of how God loves us, and the intimacy which He seeks, we must look elsewhere—in the Word for “Father” used in the “Abba” (daddy) context rather than here in the ‘God the keeper of order’ context.
We will also want to look at the fellowship between Jesus and God the Father because we inherit that relationship through Jesus as our promised and fulfilled Christ.
The traditional interpretation of Gen. 3:8 is post-sin and pre-curse, but Adam and Eve are already in a state of rebellion and their standing before God has changed. Instead of implying a friendly “walking together in the cool of the day” this verse appears to describe the highly- offended Lord God looking to Adam and Eve like an approaching storm (something new to them but what we recognize in this fallen world) from where they were hiding.
It was God’s pleasure to create a way to overcome “the sin of Adam” through the work of Jesus the Christ. Because the cost of creating “a way home” to Heaven for us was impossible through “works” He paid the price for us and only asks that we reject the things of this world-in- rebellion and surrender eternal allegiance (our free will) to our Lord the Perfect One, Jesus.
Why is a clear understanding of the “steps” or “elements” of “predestination” so important?
First, He created the conditions for all who surrender this world and who accept the gift of Heaven through Christ,
Then, Second, He granted us adoption as His (God’s) “sons”, all of the blessings and rights as “family” in Christ.
Our standing before God in an “unblemished” state is a result of His loving provision through Jesus the Christ whose sacrifice for us removed our imperfections.
When have you heard “predestination” described? Compare and contrast that with the Word of God.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one unsaved person for whom He would like you to pray.
Today I will pray for the person He has revealed to me and, if I have to earned the opportunity to do so, I will tell them about the incredible gift of Heaven through Jesus.
1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
1:8 that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight.
1:9 He did this when he revealed to us the secret of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,
1:10 toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ—the things in heaven and the things on earth.
1:11 In Christ we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will
Lord, You provided the way of freedom for us in Christ, and You provided us Your Gospel so that we would understand. May I receive Your gift of “all wisdom and insight” with a teachable heart.
We have eternal redemption and daily forgiveness, as promised by God (Gen. 3:15), and because of the propitiation of Christ.
[Note: Propitiation is theologian’s shorthand for the work of Christ on the Cross where He, the only God-man, One without sin, took upon Himself our sin and through His sacrifice of death and His miracle of resurrection destroyed the power of death-for-sin for all who accept His Lordship.]
Paul refers to “the secret” of Christ, His salvation available to all and not only the Jew, and His plan to rescue man through Christ.
[Note: The coming of a Messiah was not a secret, the Messiah is prophesied at the Fall (Gen. 3:15) in the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12:1-3), John 3:56 observes that “Abraham rejoiced for the day Messiah would come” the unique individual “one seed” (Gen. 13:15; 22:18, Gal. 3:16), “... until Shiloh comes” (Gen. 49:10-12), the sacrificial system was temporary (Rom. 3:25), the serpent of Numbers 21 is identified in John 3:14; 12:32 as an image of the Messiah, Moses is a type of Messiah (Deut. 18:15), in the Book of Ruth the kinsman redeemer/guardian is a type of Messiah (Ruth 4:14, Psa. 78:35, Deut. 25:5-10), in 1 Sam. 8:4-5 Israel is too obsessed with other nations and mis-applies Messiah as the demand a human king—a failure of understanding that followed them all of the way to time of Jesus, in 2 Sam. 7:11b-16 Messiah is clarified/restated, Messiah is often described generationally and rhetorically as “the son of David (Luke 1:32l 2:4; 18:38), all of the following describe the coming Messiah (Isa. 7:14-16; 9:6-7; 11:1-5; 49:5-7; 52, 53, Dan. 7:13-14, Zech. 3:8; 9:9, Mal. 3:1), “Out of Egypt I called My son,” -- Hos. 11:1 is misunderstood if taken to mean that the Messiah was an Egyptian. “called out” does not necessarily mean that He was an Egyptian but that He was a decendent of those called out of bondage—or that He fled persecution to Egypt (Mary & Joseph took him as a baby) then was “called out” to return home to grow up and do His work—Matthew (2:15) clarifies this, and finally one Bible scholar provided the following Messiah excerpts from Psalms:
Psalm 2 speaks of the Messiah as the One whom God will install as His King over Israel (v. 7). Messiah will be given the nations as His inheritance, and He will rule over those who seek to oppose Him (vss. 1-3, 8-9). The nations are thus urged to worship God now, or face the wrath of His coming King. In contrast, Psalm 22 portrays the suffering of Messiah on the cross of Calvary. It begins with the words which our Lord quoted upon the cross, “My God, my God, why has Thou forsaken me?” thus identifying the Savior with the One whose sufferings are described in this Psalm.
Psalm 45 is written for the celebration of the king’s marriage. It therefore focuses on the splendor and majesty of the coming King (vss. 3-6), and upon the fact that His throne is eternal (v. 6). The bride of the king loves righteousness and hates wickedness (the church?) and has been chosen by Him as His bride. The splendor and beauty of the bride is described as she has been prepared for her presentation to the King.
Psalm 72 depicts the reign of the Righteous King of Israel, who judges the people with righteousness and justice, and who vindicates the afflicted. He is the One who will answer the cries of the afflicted and will bring them deliverance.
Psalm 110 speaks of the installation of the Messiah at the right hand of God, who will rule over His enemies. Not only is He to rule as king, but He is also an eternal priest after the order of Melchizedek (v. 4). He will come to the earth to destroy His enemies.
“The Nestlé edition of the Greek NT lists “passages in bold which are direct quotations from the Old Testament.”
The list shows the NT as borrowing 224 separate passages from 103 different psalms, and with the same passages appearing in different places this gives a total of 280 psalm quotations in the NT. Approximately 50 of these deal with the sufferings, resurrection, ascension of Christ, and the spreading of the gospel to all nations.
The other quotations are more of a teaching or comforting nature.” Source:
http://www.ristosantala.com/rsla/OT/OT13.html]
Walking through the steps (second part):
1:9-10 He (the Lord God) made known to us His (God’s) will ... which He purposed in Him (God) ... with a view to the summing up of all things in Christ—this is the fulfillment of the promise of God after the Fall in the Garden (Gen. 3:15)
1:11 We are predestined according to His (God’s) purpose—when we meet the qualifications for predestination He (God) has a perfect plan for us (unlike the imperfect ones we invent every day) and upon our ‘qualification’ He initiates that plan.
Dealing with sin in our lives is a challenge, we are much better at cover-ups and denials than we are at confession and repentance and we lie to ourselves even better than we lie to others.
How does the clear linkage between the Old Testament Psalms, and the New Testament text that quotes from it, encourage your assurance of the integrity of God’s Word?
Thank the Lord God that through Jesus the Christ He took our punishment on the Cross, that He as God-man was resurrected from the formerly inescapable bonds of death, that He walked and taught His-story and His promise, and that He sent His apostles to teach and write it to the new church (believers) that we might have His Word today. Thank Him also for daily forgiveness.
When have you read something in the New Testament and realized that the writer was quoting from the OT?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a piece of His plan for your life.
Today I will praise the Lord God for His perfect plan for my life and I will humbly and trustingly follow where he leads.
1:12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of his glory.
1:13 And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)—when you believed in Christ—you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit,
1:14 who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.
Lord, You saved us and although we are already with You in your timeless-reality, we remain here for a while as we endure the time-bound reality of creation. May I keep my eyes always on You so that I never forget that I no longer belong here but rather with You in Heaven.
We first set our hopes upon Christ when we “heard the Word of truth” and “believed in Christ.” Then we were “marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit.”
Walking through the steps (third part):
1:13a We hear the Word of God, HIS-story.
1:13b We choose to believe.
1:13c We are then saved.
1:13d We are given the indwelling Holy Spirit as Jesus promised (John 16)
There is a theological construct called “already, not yet”. This refers to the sovereign and unalterable declarations of God relative to His promises to His children; we are already seen as redeemed from the penalty of sin but we are not yet directly experiencing the fullness of the results of that redemption (Heaven), or as Jesus said to the repentant thief on the Cross “... today you will be with me in paradise”—Jesus was in the grave for three days and after His resurrection walked the earth for another forty, so, clearly he was speaking in the “already, not yet” linear time versus the timelessness of God and Heavenly/spiritual reality (Luke 23:39-43).
Thank God that the resurrected and glorified Jesus, Christ in the flesh, is our perfect hope and, like Him and because of Him, we also have been claimed by God as His! We first set our hopes upon Christ when we “heard the Word of truth” and “believed in Christ.” Then we were “marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit.”
The amazing, incredible, surreal fact is that you have the indwelling Holy Spirit of God! What are you doing as a result of that incomparable gift? Are we, the body of Christ, partnering with Him to heal and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually?
How does the concept of “already, not yet,” help you to understand the difference between a human perspective of time-bound events and that of an outside-of-time God?
The resurrected and glorified Jesus, Christ in the flesh, is our perfect hope and, like Him and because of Him, we also have been claimed by God as His! We first set our hopes upon Christ when we “heard the Word of truth” and “believed in Christ.” Then we were “marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit.”
Share an example of how the Holy Spirit of God, working from within you, caused you to be used by God in a meaningful and positive way.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal how He wants to work in your life to heal and mature you.
Today I choose to prayerfully partner with Him in His work so that while I am “not yet” in my new perfected body in Heaven I am “already” worshiping Him with my life.
Prayer for Wisdom and Revelation
1:15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
1:16 I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you in my prayers.
Lord, You have given to us a right-model for obedient Biblical-Christian living. May I remember to reflect often upon this teaching, comparing and contrasting my walk with the guidance found here, and seeking to mature so that I may be-improved by Your Holy Spirit.
Paul stated his motivation for offering up prayers on the Saints behalf: “For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.” Because they are Believers “in the Lord,” and because the witness of their lives as well as their words told HIStory, Paul celebrated with, “I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you in my prayers.”
Following the sequence:
They were believers in the Lord.
They “ultrafidian” went beyond faith and ...
... obediently loved one another.
... obediently shared the Good News (like the Thessalonians 1:7-10)
therefore, Paul remembered them to God in his prayers.
As you contemplate becoming an ultrafidian-Christian; do you find that exciting and scary at the same moment? Loving those sometimes hard-to-love brothers and sisters in Christ, even the one in the mirror right after doing something really dumb, can be an exciting challenge.
In what ways can we be ultrafidian-Christians and go beyond faith to obediently love one another and obediently share the Good News because the Holy Spirit of God dwells in every one of us?
We may call upon the Lord God Who honors us through the prayers of Apostles then and the intercession of Jesus in Heaven now.
When have you been an ultrafidian-Christian and done something in-faith that you never thought you could do?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a brother or sister whom you may encourage and one unsaved person you can tell about the Gospel of Jesus the Christ.
Today I am choosing to be an ultrafidian-Christian, loving my Christian brothers and sisters and obediently sharing the Good News every chance I get.
1:17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him,
1:18—since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened—so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
1:19 and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength.
1:20 This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms 1:21 far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
Lord, You are sovereign over life and death, even time itself. May I live in a proper awe of You Lord, an awe that produces an increased desire for growing spiritual maturity in my life.
Paul strongly encouraged his readers to seek after knowledge of the Lord God and prayed that He would bless their willingness to learn with “spiritual wisdom and revelation.”
Wisdom was an attribute spoken of frequently in the Old Testament: “With God are wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his” (Job 12:13); “Fearing the Lord is the beginning of moral knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov. 1:7); “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding” (Prov. 2:6); “I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths” (Prov. 4:11); “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom” (Prov. 11:2). Reflecting on these verses, it is clear we should desire wisdom as much as God desires it for us.
“Revelation” may have more than one meaning. In 1 Corinthians 1:7 the context refers to ‘knowledge’: at one level certainty of the revelation of Christ’s return in His full glory (“so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ”) and, at another level, to insight or the discernment of truth from lies.
Some take Paul’s use of “spiritual” to refer to a Charismatic gift or experiential event but there is nothing in the larger context to support such an interpretation.
In the use of “revelation” an apparent iconicity has been noted between our “being enlightened to know” compared to “the working of His strength and might.”
In Genesis, the gift of “revelation” is promised as “the hope of His calling” cf. “raised Him from the dead” declared as “glory of His inheritance” cf. “seated Him in the Heavenly places” described as “greatness of His power” cf. “far above all rule and authority and power”
It is not necessary for everyone to go to a Bible College or a seminary, some of those who have done so were not ready when they did, and others attended where they were taught bad doctrine; but somewhere—preferably in our fellowships, large or small—we all need to get more clued-in as to spiritual wisdom and revelation.
What are some examples of the value of wisdom, acquired through the indwelling Holy Spirit, to equip us to discern and reject the many deceptions that the Enemy brings against us?
How have you responded to the Lord God’s strong encouragement of us to seek after knowledge of Him, with the promise that He will bless our willingness to learn; specifically learning about spiritual wisdom and revelation.
When have you experienced or observed an example where knowledge of the Word of God and possession of discernment of the Holy Spirit equipped you to discern and reject a deception, or to assist another believer in so doing?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an area of your knowledge of spiritual wisdom or revelation that wants you to explore.
Today I will invest more time in my knowledge of spiritual wisdom and revelation.
1:22 And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and he gave him to the church as head over all things.
1:23 Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Lord, You have called us together in-You, and You have equipped us through Your Word. May I be faithful in encouraging fellowship that is centered upon You my Lord God.
Paul reminded the church that everything, and every Believer, is “under Christ’s feet” and that “the church is his body”.
With “God put all things under Christ’s feet” Paul penned an interesting parallel to Psalm 8, where David praised the Lord God for giving His Creation to man. Adam and Eve rebelled, everything and everybody created was cursed because of them, and consequently Satan became the ruler or prince of the fallen world (see John 16:11). Yet we read in Daniel 12:1, “Michael the great prince [a type of Jesus the Christ] who protects your people will arise.”
Then Paul wrote, “He gave him to the church as head over all things.” [All Believers must choose to be, as they inherently are already, eternally submitted to Christ, as will also be “the new heaven and new earth” (Rev. 21:1).]
“Now the church is his body” reminds us that Believers, wherever they are, are a spiritual extension, or physical representation, on earth of Christ and that every member is obligated to Him for their salvation and therefore owes Him a love-debt of service.
Paul then declared how great is the reach of the presence of Christ, “the fullness of him who fills all in all.” He reminded his readers again that He is God, that He holds together all of creation (see Col. 1:15), and that He as the Holy Spirit is in every believer.
The Lord God is not pleased with careless Christians who attend a fellowship out of guilt or social obligation or superstition, or for entertainment or business or social networking. Believers must get serious about being teachable, about setting new God-directed priorities, and about making choices that are more intentionally-Biblical.
What is an illustration of “submission to Christ” in such a way as to provide a “container” of love and value within which we live, and a sense of protection and purpose, as He is our One true and perfect King.
The wonderful truth that Jesus is in charge and not mere humans, that “The Church” (Believers) report to Him and not to mere man, and the true “Church” is His earthly expression through us through the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit and that every member has the privilege of giving back to Him a love-debt of service.
When have you made a decision about a fellowship, or a level of participation in that fellowship, that was not based on your own discipleship, serving others, or shared worship but was instead due to some lesser flesh-motivated purpose: seeking clients, seeking a mate, seeking access to someone with money or power or prestige, seeking entertainment, seeking recognition, or other purpose. How did God show you your error? Or is He challenging your your heart-motivation right now?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you something in your calendar and/or checkbook that He wants you to submit more-intentionally to His priorities.
Today I will partner with His Holy Spirit in becoming more teachable in heart and in mind and I will be a more intentional member of the community of believers which is His Church.
Additional Resources: “Messiah” http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=660 {1}
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Ephesians”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in October of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The Apostle Paul, having reminded his readers of the glory and promises of God, as well as our need for His grace and provision, moves on to our new standing before God, both as individuals and, corporately, as a family of Believers.
When the daily challenges of life confront us, our fleshy nature tends to move us to anger or depression in response to fear.
In books and movies like Harry Potter, young people turn to witchcraft for magical powers. In the crass movie Wanted a young man, trapped in what he sees as a dead-end job as an “account manager” under the tyrannical supervision of an arbitrary and demanding boss, invents a persona of rebellion and re-creates the story of his life. In his fantasy he is the heir to the “magical” powers of his murdered father, is recruited by an organization supposedly directed by fate to execute bad people, is befriended by a beautiful and deadly woman, endures severe injuries as part of his training, is “magically” cured, and goes on to be the hero of the story. He then returns to his job, where he righteously exacts revenge on all who “deserve it.”
Which of us has not dreamed of such glorious “get-evens”? Of what are we afraid: Failure, pain, insignificance? In what or whom shall we trust: Government, magic, money, power, God?
In Wanted the gang of mercenaries is presented as a family with a home that looked like a castle. Each had power, privilege, and purpose. They were never alone, backed up one another, were provided with the best of everything, and acted in ways designed to change the world.
Are we not who we are as a result of Whose we are? Do we not therefore have exceptional power, privilege, and purpose? And are we ever really alone? Do we back up one another? Are we provided with what we truly need? Do we act in ways that change our world?
New Life Individually
2:1 And although you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
2:2 in which you formerly lived according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience,
2:3 among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest…
Lord, You have offered us rescue from destruction, because the enemies deception constantly leads humankind into sin. May I be careful to test every influence to be certain that it if of-You and not of-the enemy.
Who we were is no longer who we are “in Christ”.
Paul began by setting up the context “... you were dead in your transgressions and sins ...”, the he paused a moment to let that sink in.
Paul continued with a checklist of their circumstances:
1. “... in which you formally [or previously] lived ...”
2. “... according to this world’s present path ...”
3. “... according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air ...” [Air is created, Satan temporarily rules due to the Fall.]
4. “... according to the ruler of the spirit ...” [Pre-salvation our spirit is accessible by Satan.]
5. “... that is now energizing the sons of disobedience ...” [From Adam and Eve on, all are sons—and daughters—of disobedience absent salvation.]
6. “... among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives ...”
7. “... in the cravings of our flesh ...”
8. “... indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind ...”
9. “... and were by nature children of wrath ...” [God’s wrath for rebellion against Him.]
10. “... even as the rest ...”
The nature of our pre-salvation selves was, eternally-spiritually dead.
How enlightening is it for you to personalize the checklist of Paul with your life story?
What are some obvious evidences of evil in modern society as listed by Paul?
When have you been confronted by an unsaved person who is unwittingly enslaved as Paul described?
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the opportunity to gently show these verses to an unsaved person whose respect and trust you have previously earned.
Today I will share as the Holy Spirit guides and ask if the person sees any parallels between their lives and what Paul described. I will do so humbly and respectfully, I will not condemn or pressure them, I will merely engage a conversation and allow the Holy Spirit to be in control.
2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us,
2:5 even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!—
2:6 and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 2:7 to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God;
2:9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast.
Lord, You provided for our salvation even when not one was fit to be saved, and You ask for nothing but surrender-through-faith in return.
We are “saved by grace” because we could never have been saved through Works alone. The Lord God “sees” us through eyes of grace—the eyes of Jesus Christ.
Paul continued his explanation of how and why God has acted to redeem us:
The amazing truth that the Lord God chooses to love us and chooses to show His love through the gift of grace that is our salvation.
What does each element of Paul’s summary mean to you? Can you recall a parallel passage elsewhere in the Bible?
“Works” cannot earn salvation, salvation was only made possible by the gift of God and may only be received by accepting the Lordship of Christ—surrendering everything else, the entire world and our free will.
How did the absence of a demand for works-righteousness, by the Lord God, help to lead you to choose to surrender in faith?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone whom He has prepared to heat His Gospel.
Today I will share the truths of these verses with someone “considering Christ” and/or with a fellow believer who would be blessed and encouraged to revisit their salvation.
2:10 For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.
Lord, You rescued us from the eternal spiritual junkyard to which we were condenmed by our first ancestors, Adam and Eve. May we, as believers, celebrate Your rescue through lives sold-out to You.
God has a purpose and a plan for each of us: We are to “partner” with Him and invite Him to do whatever He has to do to shape us into useful servants of His perfect will.
“For we are His workmanship ...” [God does not make anything imperfect—Adam and Eve made us into junk—Jesus will restore us to “design specs” in Heaven. Rom 5:15]
“... having been created in Christ Jesus ...” [Or, re-created, “made new”. 1Cor. 15:22]
“... for good works ...” [This is post-salvation.]
“... that God prepared beforehand ...” [He wanted Adam & Eve to stay clean and do this.
Rom. 5:12]
“... so that we may do them.” [We are allowed to choose to serve God well or poorly.]
Despite the failure of Adam & Eve the Lord God provided a way that we might return to what He had planned for them before the Fall and to begin-again that relationship, this time “farming” and “fishing” for a spiritual harvest and catch.
What are some teachings elsewhere in the Bible as to what “works” God expects of His children? (Hint: Fruits of the spirit, telling His-story, loving fellow believers, using our gifts fully.)
There has been an amazing change in you before and after salvation, how your self-image was transformed (or should have been) from a slave to the world to a child of God in a love-relationship with the Creator-God of everything.
What is an example of serving the Lord God through good works, as a believer, in your life?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone whom He has led to ‘consider-Christ’.
Today I will tell someone who is “considering Christ” my story of before and after salvation. I will not pressure them to make any sort of decision but will pray for them to choose Christ.
New Life Corporately
2:11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh—who are called “uncircumcision” by the so-called “circumcision” that is performed on the body by human hands—
2:12 that you were at that time without the Messiah, alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Lord, You have made Your redemption of humankind available to anyone who surrenders to the Lordship of Christ, regardless of age, gender, national origin, or race. May I remember to refuse to treat people differently based on anything—other than the only thing that matters—their relationship with You.
We have now become “aliens” in this fallen world, whose prince is Satan. We are instead guaranteed eternal citizenship in Heaven with our Lord and King!
Paul began by speaking to the Gentiles, reminding them that they lacked the Jewish hope of a Messiah, and were labeled “uncircumcised” by those who associated ritual circumcision with works-salvation.
Paul then reminded them that they also were strangers to the knowledge of God, something the Jews did possess.
The Paul concluded that although they had been “far away” they “... had now been brought near by the blood of Christ” and were “in Christ Jesus”—peers with all believers, Jew and Gentile alike.
The double-gift of Christ to Gentiles, they (mostly “we”), not only gained the knowledge that a Messiah was needed and was coming, but the knowledge that He has come and He welcomes us now to His salvation-party as an honored guest—if we will but come in faith.
What are some ways that you were clueless and hopeless, in your life, as a result of unawareness of the promise of a Messiah?
What impact does the meaning of the Biblical phrases “brought near by the blood of Christ” and “in Christ Jesus” have upon you?
How would you explain the Biblical phrases “brought near by the blood of Christ” and “in Christ Jesus” with someone to whom they would be very foreign expressions and perhaps even unpleasant expressions?
Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to a Biblically-accurate but less religious-sounding explanation of the Biblical phrases “brought near by the blood of Christ” and “in Christ Jesus”.
Today I will share my less “religious-sounding” explanation with someone who has not yet chosen Christ. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me for wisdom and will share with that prayer-partner the outcome of my sharing.
2:14 For he is our peace, the one who made both groups into one and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility,
2:15 when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees.
He did this to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace,
2:16 and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed.
Lord, You chose in the Garden of Eden to make a way to reconcile Your creation to you—and despite our continued rebellion even since You have never waivered. May I be more like You every day, resolute in placing You first, resolved to draw nearer to You.
Through Jesus the Christ, the Lord God has abolished the demands of the Law upon man and has instead taken them upon Himself. The “people of the Law” (Jews) and those not of the “chosen tribe” are now forever one in Christ.
Paul described Christ as “our peace” because He “... made both groups [Gentiles and Jews] into one ...”
“... He nullified in His flesh the law of commandments in decrees.” [Jesus took away the requirement of the Law that every person who ever sinned be condemned and replaced it with grace—which makes Him our righteousness instead of perfect Law-keeping.]
“He did this to create in Himself ...” [the body of believers; “The Church”, exists as an adopted part of the Lord’s family—a unique intimacy of ‘being’.]
“... one new man out of two ...” [Jew and Gentile, Law-keeper and Law-stranger.]
“... to reconcile them both in one body to God ...” [the body of believers; “The Church”.]
“... through the Cross ...” [Where the power of death was broken for all who surrendered in faith, dying to the world and the dominion of Satan, being born anew in Christ.]
“... by which the hostility has been killed.” [the curse at the Fall as recorded in Genesis.]
The Lord God has given the incredible gift and sacrifice of Christ, taking our sins to the Cross and leaving them there—powerless—so that He might then offer us the perfect hope of salvation.
How do you express the proper Biblical definition of “The Church” as the community of believers? How might you use that clarification to draw fellow Christians away from an obsession with buildings and organizations and instead to relationship (with God) and purpose (in Christ)?
The dominion of Satan in the lives of the unsaved is broken and there is a new-found freedom experienced by children of God.
What is an example of the way Jesus bridges the gap of Jew and Gentile, old and young, male and female, as all recognize that their common definition, purpose, and value comes from a common source?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a fellow believer who will be edified and encouraged to learn of the most-Biblical definition of “The Church”.
Today I will encourage a fellow believer to reconsider the Biblical meaning of “The Church” and ask them to then prayerfully consider where the Enemy may have caused distraction and diversion in their relationship with God as the result of a non-Biblical definition of “The Church”. I will commit to pray in agreement with them for wisdom as they walk through the process of adjusting their perspectives and priorities.
2:17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near,
2:18 so that through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
2:19 So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,
2:20 because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
Lord, You made a way for us to benefit from Your 'cross of grace'. May I celebrate Your gift with a life sold-out to You.
Paul reminded the people that Jesus arose and “preached peace” so that all are welcomed to accept His gift through the Holy Spirit. He is the cornerstone upon which the apostles and the prophets built His Church.
He also reminded them that Jesus came and “preached peace” to both Jew and Gentile in order to bring them together in faith and together in the Holy Spirit.
Paul used again the term “saints” to describe “fellow citizens” and “members of God’s household.”
He further explained that who they were as believers was because they “have been built on the foundations of the apostles and prophets ...”
Then, Paul used another construction metaphor “... with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.”
The strong desire of Christ that His children be unified (based on Biblical Christian principles, not the invented parameters of man, such as "political correctness" or "speech censorship", which are intended to restrict the condemnation of sin).
The apostles and the prophets taught what was necessary to an adequate knowledge-base, and they demonstrated the power of the Holy Spirit to equip believers to be unified in the love of Christ; how is that explained and practiced in your fellowship?
Believers are blessed by a powerful sense of 'belonging' that comes from the Lord God calling us "saints" and "fellow citizens" and "members of God's household."
When have you observed genuine unity among believers that overcame, and or is overcoming, worldly divisions and fears?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a new or troubled believer whom He desires to reach using you as His instrument of blessing.
Today I will share the Lord God's priority that we be united in the love of Christ. I agree to pray in-agreement that they will partner with the Holy Spirit to purge any fear or misunderstandings that may stand in opposition to their full fellowship with their fellow believers.
2:21 In him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 2:22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Lord, You have made every believer, and every fellowship of faithful believers a dwelling place where You make Your presence and Your plan known. May I seize every opportunity to “grow together” with like-minded intentional Biblical-Christians.
The Lord God draws together those who are His, building us into a “holy temple” and a “dwelling place of God in the Spirit”.
Paul wrote “In Him ...”, reminding them of the centrality of Christ to everything in the world of the believer.
He continued his construction metaphor “... the whole building ...” [The corporate commonality of believers.]
“... being joined together ..” [Causing believers to live in Biblical unity is a process, not an event.]
“... grows into a holy temple ...” [Believers are purposed to worship God in everything that we think, say, and do.]
“... in the Lord ...” [The centrality of Christ again.]
“... in whom you are also being built together ...” [It is a community process.]
“... into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” [The Holy Spirit is our common bond.]
It is critical to remember that Christ is in all and defines all and brings to all perspective and purpose and nothing we do as believers must ever be apart from Him as our center.
Why is there such a major problem with worldly things displacing Christ in our gatherings and in our separate daily walks?
The are many ways we can choose to enhance the centrality of Christ and to resist the distractions of the enemy.
When have you experienced or observed a community of believers either emphasizing Christ or allowing themselves to be distracted by something else. What was the result?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you a place in your walk, alone and in community, where you have allowed other things to displace Christ as the indispensable and irreplaceable center.
Today I will cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He leads me back to a right place with Christ.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Ephesians”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in October of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The Apostle Paul reminded his readers of the glory and promise of God, our need for His grace and provision, and our new standing before God, as both individuals and as a family of believers.
Paul revisited the magnificence of God, the plan for Christ to create a Church of all believers, that the fruits of grace are to be shared, that discouragement due to suffering may be evidence of doubts about God’s sovereignty, that faithfulness in suffering may be strong evidence of true salvation, and that we need to be in constant awe of the love and power and provision of God.
Paul’s Relationship to the Divine Mystery
3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
3:2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
3:3 that by revelation the divine secret was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly.
3:4 When reading this, you will be able to understand my insight into this secret of Christ.
Lord, Your revelation through Paul announced Your fulfillment of Your consistent promise to Adam and Eve, Abraham, and Moses. May I be faithful to tell others.
Paul’s revelation was that who you *were* is no longer who you are “in Christ”.”
He reminded his readers that his insight was a result of God’s calling and equipping—so that there was no confusion with the false teachers whose claim was to be wise in and of themselves.
Paul also wanted to be sure that his readers understood that unless they were “in Christ”, saved plus the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, so that they would be unable to understand his message well.
God forgives every sin that we (Christians) confess, and for which we are truly repentant (desire to turn away from), and He sets us free from judgment for that/those sins. God makes us new every morning.
The Lord God called and equipped Paul, once a “Jew of Jews”, a Pharisee who had no time for Gentiles and who attacked Christians, to be His emissary to Gentile-Christians.
Why might a non-Christian have trouble understanding what Paul is teaching? Why was it important for Paul to remind the Gentile believers of the source of his authority versus that of some other preacher-teachers who had not been sent by God?
The meaning of “Who you *were* is no longer who you are in-Christ” is important.
When were you unable to comprehend a Biblical teaching prior to your salvation, but once indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, you could understand?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you something new in the Bible to both equip and mature you and to remind you of His power to transform.
Today I will thank the Lord God that He forgives every sin that we confess, and for which we are truly repentant (desire to turn away from), and that He sets us free from judgment for that sin (makes us new every morning).
3:5 Now this secret was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,
3:6 namely, that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
Lord, You had a perfect plan from the beginning, and in Your perfect timing—following the work of Jesus the Christ on the Cross and Resurrection—You made it known through Your chosen spokesmen. May I worship Your perfection and share Your story.
There was little point to revealing this “secret” until after the Gospel had been actualized through the events of the Cross and the Resurrection.
The Lord God’s timing was perfect as the Romans had created an exceptional system for travel which equipped His messengers to spread the Word quickly and effectively—before the enemies of truth could prevent it.
When Jesus was crucified the veil between man and God was torn away forever and with the resurrection of Christ all who accept His Lordship, and reject everything that is not of Him, are welcomed into His eternal family regardless of gender, race, or social status. (Galatians 3:28)
Recalling our discussion of Ephesians 1; the New Testament chronology tells us that Ephesians is preceded chronologically by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, James, Galatians, Thessalonians, Corinthians, Romans, Philemon, and Colossians. Thus the members of the church (believers) at Ephesus would have been taught this concept. (Note: There are 24 cross references to this same concept from those Letters/Books.)
http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Gal&chapter=3&verse=28&tab=commentaries
The Lord God abolished all of the worldly castes and classes, artificial social hierarchies and racial distinctions. All are equal in His family.
What are some of the reason(s) why we must surrender our claims to everything in this fallen world, including our free will, in order to truly be saved?
“... the veil between man and God was torn away forever.”
When have you experienced or observed the way that an absence of artificial man-made walls, separating people into unequal sub-groups, impacted witnessing for Christ and/or encouraging fellow believers?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone “considering Christ” and/or a fellow believer whom He desires you to share His revealed secret.
Today I will share these truths with someone "considering Christ", and/or with a fellow believer, who would be blessed and encouraged to recognize and live in the freedom-from-man-made-walls that comes from being a member of the family of God.
3:7 I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the exercise of his power.
3:8 To me—less than the least of all the saints—this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ
3:9 and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan—a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things.
Lord, You made salvation possible, and You have caused Your Gospel to be known far and wide. May I be faithful in gratefulness and bold in sharing Your story.
The power of the Lord God was in His provision of salvation through Jesus the Christ.
The Lord God called Paul by appearing to him then empowered him by bringing others alongside to disciple him in order that Paul might effectively challenge the religious elite (as a former peer).
Paul became a “... servant of this gospel” because of the Lord God's calling and empowering and his right-response to tell others.
Paul wrote much of the New Testament so that we might better know God and what He asks of us.
Paul reminded his readers again that God’s saving grace is for all, regardless of gender, race, or social status.
Paul, despite his history, was teachable in spirit and willing to go and to do whatever the Lord God asked, no matter the cost.
What are some of the things that you have learned about the Lord God, and what He expects of you, as a result of reading the writings of Paul?
Those whom God called to serve alongside of Paul, and those whom God calls today, have been used to faithfully teach His truths to generation after generation of new believers.
When have you experienced a faithful teacher, rightly teaching the unchanging Word of God, helping you to grow in the knowledge of God and in your maturing personal walk with Him?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind me of a faithful teacher of His Word for whom He wants me to pray.
Today I will thank the Lord God for empowering Paul to challenge the religious elite and to write so much of the New Testament that we might better know Him and what He asks of us.
3:10 The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms.
3:11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 3:12 in whom we have boldness and confident access to God because of Christ’s faithfulness.
Lord, You have allowed angels, demons, and humankind alike to make choices and to choose sides, and over history You promised a redeemer—while You kept the details to Yourself. As I learn from the apostles the Gospel story may I be enlightened and may I share Your story with others.
Angels and demons alike were made aware of the complete meaning and purpose of the Gospel, and especially the role of The Church (the assembly of believers, physical and/or spiritual, as an eternal family), in the great plan of the Lord God’s redemption of humankind.
Through the work of Christ we may approach the Creator and all-powerful God of everything with the confidence of a dearly loved child that we will receive all of the needed affection and provision and training from the most-perfect One.
“The Church”, the body of believers, “has become the revelation of the plan of redemption from the Lord God.
How has the “enlightenment” of the Lord God, through His Bible, His Holy Spirit, and those whom He has sent to teach you, increased your maturity and your relationship with Him?
How incredible is the love of the Lord God that we may approach Him with “... boldness and confident access”.
When have you have approached the Lord God with “... boldness and confident access” and He has responded to you with comfort, encouragement, enlightenment, equipping, and/or healing?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you have not been bringing a challenge to the Lord.
Today I will approach the Creator and all-powerful God of everything with the confidence of a dearly loved child in order to receive all of the needed affection and comfort and provision and training and wisdom from the most-perfect One.
3:13 For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
Lord, You allowed Paul to demonstrate the depth of commitment that You ask of a true follower, just as You asked Your prophets of the OT to sometimes suffer to make a point. May I be a willing instrument, even when it is inconvenient, and even when it hurts.
Because the Lord God has chosen to us The Church (believers) as His instrument of redemption in the world, we are not to “lose heart”.
No matter what happens in our time here in this fallen and foreign world God is our sufficiency, He is our comfort, He is our purpose, and He is never far from us. We must never lose hope!
Paul wanted them to understand that his suffering triggered two choices in the lives of his readers; the first was to bring them the Word of salvation—in which he prayed that they would trust—therefore resulting in the glory of their salvation; the second, that they remained strong “not to lose heart”, and thereby their faith and trust in the Lord God’s greater purpose would serve as both an evidence of their salvation and as an evidence of them “working out their salvation” in an intentionally “ultrafidian” (beyond faith) manner; itself also an expression of their “glory”—a beauty because of Him and reflected back to Him.
The Lord God provided the voluntary sacrifice of Christ which served as a model for that of the apostles.
What does “... our time here in this fallen and foreign world” mean to you?
The powerful truth is that the Lord God is our sufficiency, He is our comfort, He is our purpose, and He is never far from us.
When have you experienced, in a certain circumstance, that trusting the Lord God brought you hope when all of the worldly evidence suggested that you were without hope?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you in His own special way that no matter what happens in our time here in this fallen and foreign world He is our sufficiency, He is our comfort, He is our purpose, and He is never far from us.
Today I will thank the Lord God and I will share that Biblical perspective with a fellow believer whom I believe will be blessed by that Word of encouragement.
Prayer for Strengthened Love
3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,
3:15 from whom every family in heaven and on the earth is named.
3:16 I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person,
3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love,
3:18 you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
3:19 and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Lord, You made it possible for me to be in Your eternal family, and You then fill me with Christ so that I may mature in-You. May I seek Your wisdom, surrender to Your Lordship, and be available as Your instrument.
For this reason I kneel [“this reason” referred to salvation and their continued maturity] before the Father [We are called “the children of the Father”] from whom every family ... is named [Historically naming implied ownership, or at least a position of superiority. In the early Genesis account Adam named the animals over whom God gave him dominion.] according to the wealth of His glory He may grant [God’s glory is endless. God chooses to give from His resources, none may compel Him.] be strengthened [We acknowledge our weakness and then we set aside our pride and allow God to be our strength.]
Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith [Christ “dwells” in a rhetorical sense through our attitudes, and God is more literally represented in us via his indwelling Holy Spirit. Faith is the means through which we trust the truth of Christ, follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and go beyond the essentials of salvation into “ultrafidian” beyond faith surrender and service.] rooted and grounded in love ... able to comprehend ... the love of Christ [A tree draws nutrition from and is strengthened against uprooting in storms by it’s roots, so it should be for us through the love of Christ. He also gives to we selfish and stubborn people the capacity to comprehend His unique love.] be filled up to all the fullness of God [It is God’s desire that we be filled to overflowing so that the overflow may bless others.]
Incredible is the gift that we are claimed by the Lord God as His eternal-children.
What are some of the blessings that the Lord God pours out to His children, and through them, overflowing to others?
What is the impact of being “... rooted and grounded in ... the love of Christ”?
When have you experienced the Lord God causing an overflow of His love in you so that you could then share the overflow with others?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you several times this day to reread and to reflect upon the prayer of Paul.
Today, as I read and reflect upon this prayer of Paul I will thank the Lord God for placing it upon his heart and for pouring it out through his letter to the Ephesians and others.
3:20 Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think,
3:21 to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, You are the power for change for good, and You have chosen to work through Your children—The Church. May I be available and engaged as You disciple and equip me to be one of Your instruments of reconciliation to humankind in the world.
The power of Him that is working in us is both our faith, which He is growing, and is the Holy Spirit—through Whom He is growing it.
The Lord God is without-limit, something that we finite humans are cannot fully comprehend.
Paul challenged the Ephesian believers, and believers everywhere, to be honest in their prayers to the Lord God—because He is able “...to do far beyond all that we ask or think”
The phrase “... in the church” refers to the believers—which is the only place on earth that the Lord God chooses to display His glory and through whom His glory is reflected—”... the church” existed before buildings and denominations and programs and it continues to exist apart from those things.
“... in Christ Jesus the glory of God is displayed generation after generation and forever.
The meaning of a familial relationship with the God of endless power and timeless existence.
What are some ways that we may partner with the Lord God in-faith to be conduits of His glory to others?
Celebrate the Lord God’s reassurance, through Paul, that we need hold nothing back as He can and will do far more than “... all that we ask or think”
When have you the Lord God going far beyond your prayer-request of Him?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you to read Paul's prayer several times today.
Today I will say Amen & Amen! To Paul's prayer and I will share it with a fellow believer and together will celebrate the Lord God's loving-perfection.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Ephesians”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in October of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The Apostle Paul called upon the church (believers) to grow up. He implored them to learn the Word, to live the Word, and to press away the polluting influences of the sinful world to which they were formally emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual slaves.
Paul did not request, nor did he expect perfection any more than Jesus did; Jesus provided for confession, repentance, and forgiveness for good reason. Paul was clear in all of his writings that he had his own struggles and thus anticipated the same in the Christian walk of others.
Paul’s message was that we be intentional in the pursuit of holiness, that such be a major focus of our lives, because in so doing we honor God and we are continually moving away from potential temptation.
Live in Unity
4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called, 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
4:3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling,
4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Lord, You ask us to be intentional in the pursuit of personal holiness, because You are Holy and we belong to You. May I make time for Bible study and reflection, find prayer and accountability partners, and be faithful in sacrificial service to others so that You make draw me every-nearer to You.
“... live worthily of the calling”—We are children of God, “saints”, destined for eternity in Heaven, privileged to carry His name in this temporary world.
We rightly condemn sports stars and political leaders when they behave in anti-social ways because they bring shame upon the name of their team or their nation; therefore, we must also understand that the Lord God desires that we honor His name in our conduct.
Paul was a living example of humility. He confessed his own failings in several of his letters—we are never to think ourselves better than our peers—or the apostles.
No former enemy of the Lord God (that’s us), saved by God’s grace through faith in Him alone, has justification for arrogance.
Gentleness marks the maturing believer, patience with loving endurance of occasional immaturity toward those who are learning and growing as we had to learn and to grow—older “siblings” to younger “children in the faith”.
Paul reminded us to remember that the newly saved are “The Church” [believers] and we all have the same Holy Spirit; therefore, one does not war with oneself.
The Lord God is one, and we are one as His Church (believers), and our peace comes from our joy in the eternal promise of Heaven through our trust that He is in control.
There is no conflict inside “The Church” [among believers] so long as our eyes are on Him alone.
Children often put-down their younger sibling, taunting them with “little baby” or take advantage of their lack of life experience and knowledge with tricks; sadly, many adults never mature out of this abusive, destructive, and ignorant behavior.
Old-school parents may often chide their children as they head out the door “remember not to do anything that would bring shame to the family name”, so great was their traditional belief in the value of integrity before the watching world. This has been largely lost in a fragmented society where selfishness rules—God calls us to integrity in everything we do as the bearers of the name of Christ. How might we remind children, and peers, to take care how they present the Lord God to a watching world?
Jesus and the apostles modeled humility, yet still there was a constant problem in the early church with arrogant and proud people assuming roles of leadership, the problem continues.
When have you discovered that knowing that you are a “child of God” gave you the perspective and motivation to walk away from sin that otherwise may have ensnared you?
Ask the Holy Spirit to find you teachable and guide you away from an old sin (or perhaps a new one) and toward righteousness instead.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement for this and will share with them what God does to honor our prayers. I will also thank the Lord God for the Holy Spirit who equips us to live worthy of God and in peace with fellow believers—doing so without Him is impossible.
4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
4:8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he captured captives; he gave gifts to men.”
4:9 Now what is the meaning of “he ascended,” except that he also descended to the lower regions, namely, the earth?
4:10 He, the very one who descended, is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.
Lord, You came and rescued humankind—captives of sin in this fallen world—and incarnated in Jesus the Christ and Your Holy Spirit You completed Your plan to provide a path of redemption. May I understand that You love Your creation so dearly that You sacrificed on our behalf—and my response will be a grateful surrender to Your Lordship.
One school of Biblical scholarship teaches that Jesus on the Cross carried our sin down to Hell, left it there, announced our freedom, and rose again. He then ascended back to His home in Heaven to prepare a place for “the captives” whom He had rescued via the Cross. Another suggests that we may read this as a reference to Jesus leaving Heaven for His earthly ministry to later return to His home in Heaven. In either case the most important element is that Jesus is our intercessor.
“... in order to fill all things.” echoes Paul’s prior reference to God’s promises.
The US Secret Service protects the President and others. The job description of an Agent includes literally “taking a bullet” if such is necessary to defend the President from harm. Jesus “took the bullet” of sin’s eternal punishment for us.
When you study the differing views of "descended", separating what the Bible says versus what are the fanciful extra-Biblical notions of classical fictional literature by Dante and modern fictional works of Hollywood, what do you conclude?
“... in order to fill all things” is a reminder that God keeps all of his promises.
When have you discovered that knowing that God keeps His promises provided the strength and trust to walk through an otherwise very difficult experience?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone "considering Christ" with whom He would like you to share this message.
Today I will Thank God that Jesus the Christ humbled Himself to come down to earth, took and dumped our sins in Hell, rose again to Heaven to make a way for us.
Thank God that Jesus took my punishment and made a way for me back to fellowship with God, the purpose for which mankind was originally designed.
Today I will share the amazing story of God's provision for salvation through Jesus—and His continuing provision to His children. It may be on an Internet discussion list (appropriate to the list parameters), a text message, a phone call, a letter, a personal conversation, or some other format—but I make a commitment to "just do it".
4:11 It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ,
4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God—
a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature.
Lord, You choose to use us as Your tools for building the quantity and quality of Your “Church” (believers) and You equip and sends those who will lead and train us in doing so. May I go and serve where I am sent and follow and learn when I need to be lead.
Between the moment of of saving faith—our absolute surrender to Christ—and our arrival in Heaven for eternity (following the Great White Throne Judgment) we are all constantly in the process of maturing.
Jesus provided everything that we needed “... to build up the body of Christ”, that is, to grow His “Church” (believers) in both quality and quantity. Among those resources are apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers (some of whom are pastors)—their job is not to build buildings, gather adoring fans, create local doctrines, or to do “the work of ministry”—the text is clear that their job is to “equip the saints for the work of ministry”, which is, “to build up the body of Christ”.
This is very important because it means that every single “saint” (believer) is called to “the work of ministry” and that it cannot be delegated-away to apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers and/or pastors.
This is also very important because it means that every single saint must be constantly-maturing so that they become more and more valuable to the Lord God in His ministry of building up the body of Christ.
Paul elsewhere (1 Cor. 12, etc.) described the various roles of members of the “body” or family of believers that is “the Church”, with an emphasis on the importance that all are serving (and are serving as-called), that none is more important nor any capable of everything. Every part of the body is dependent on the others.
Here Paul emphasized the role of the leaders, from the founding of The Church (believers) until this very day, and until Jesus calls His children home. Apostles were called to establish the Church and to equip those who would sustain the Church once they departed. Prophets, then and now, remind us of Who God is, what He has done, and what He has promised to do. Once the “canon”, the trustworthy Word of the Bible, was closed by the Lord God there is “nothing new under the sun” (or the Son), Rev. 22:18-19 makes that profoundly clear.
Evangelists and teachers (some whom are pastors) tell His-story, feed His sheep, and protect His sheep.
There is an “old school” religious tradition where all of “the work of ministry” is foisted upon the pastor-teacher. He is often expected to perform every function from prayer, teaching, caring, service, evangelism, even “church” property maintenance! This is despite the clear teaching of the Bible about the distributed responsibilities of “the body” and the instruction that the “elders” focus upon their duties as spiritual leaders and delegate overflow-tasks to “deacons”.
In what ways may a pastor-teacher emphasize the “equip(ing) of the saints for the work of ministry”? How can he be protected from becoming too-busy doing their “work” for them.? How might the pastor, and certain hyper-active “saints”, may resist leaping to do most of the “work of the ministry”—because in so doing they deny the blessing of service to others? Is it not evidence of maturity and wisdom for them to learn to to wait a bit when a need arises to allow the Lord God, through His indwelling Holy Spirit, to make clear whom He has been preparing in the body to be blessed as a conduit of His blessing?
What does the phrase “... to equip the saints for the work of ministry” mean to you?
When have you experienced an example of a faithful teacher preparing you "for the work of ministry", showing you opportunities to serve, coaching and mentoring you, but then allowing you to do and to grow and then to multiply yourself as they multiplied themselves in you and others?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you some things you have been doing which you have not been called and/or have not been gifted to do?
Today I commit to partner with the Holy Spirit in “... equip[ing] the saints for the work of ministry” by teaching, coaching, equipping, and mentoring others to do what they have been called and/or have been gifted to do—so that I may focus on those things to which I have been called.
4:14 So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes.
4:15 But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.
4:16 From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body grows in love.
Lord, You draw us together for safety and strength and from that safe place we are able to discern falsehoods and to resist manipulation. May I invest in intimate fellowship with mature fellow believers.
We are to be as teachable as children but not as gullible. Paul previously complimented the Bereans for their intentional-validation of all teaching by consulting the Word of God (as much as they had of it in their day).
We have the Word of God, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and are engaged in constant growth in maturity; therefore, we are without excuse for a lack of discernment and/or a lack of progress toward intentional-holiness.
Paul warned again that there would be people who would “craftily carry out their deceitful schemes” with the intent of creating non-Biblical fads “every wind of teaching” and that believers are not to be “tossed back and forth by waves and carried about”.
He concluded with the reminder that together, in unity from love, we may stand strong against deceivers and that the truth will be found in the atmosphere of God’s love and unity.
There may be local “preachers” as well as radio and television “preachers” who promote all manner of magical thinking; the “prosperity gospel”, magical healing from a napkin touched by them (which one may receive for a “small donation”), legalism-equals-righteousness, tradition-equals-truth, etc. They were condemned in the most strident terms by Jesus and by the faithful apostles and prophets and teachers of the New Testament Bible as well.
What is the result when people join fellowships as members, or as leaders, and then they attempt to “craftily carry out their deceitful schemes”?
If the Holy Spirit is to use the Word to guide and to protect us from the charlatans the Word needs to be in our minds for Him to reference, and the Word needs to be authoritative so that we are willing to accept a hard teaching—no matter the circumstances. Walking together with others provides us with shared wisdom and strength.
When have you shared Biblical knowledge and maturity within a fellowship and then together, in unity from love, you stood strong against deceivers. What was the result?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal new opportunities to study the Word, together with others, in order to be better equipped to discern and to resist deceivers.
Today I will ask another believer to join me in a brief topical study, in-person or online, of deceivers from the New Testament. (See http://bible.org/seriespage/instruction-concerning-false-teachers-church... )
Live in Holiness
4:17 So I say this, and insist in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
4:18 They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.
4:19 Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
Lord, You rescued us from our Godless existence and You gave us purpose versus futility, understanding versus ignorance, adoption versus alienation toward You, sensitivity versus callousness, decency versus indecency, purity versus impurity, and generosity versus greediness. My I be grateful through a life surrendered to Your good works in and through me rather than the meaningless business of the world apart from You.
Paul used the colloquial term “Gentiles”, which was a Jewish slur to refer to all non-Jews, and which carried the instant-meaning, even to Gentiles, of one who is apart from the Lord God. (In the context of “neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free” it still meant the same to Christians but no longer bore the racial epithet of “non-Jewish”.)
He reminded the Ephesians that without Christ, and therefore without the indwelling Holy Spirit, all people are clueless; trapped in the “futility of their thinking”, “darkened in their understanding”, “alienated from the life of God”, crippled by the “ignorance that is in them”, compromised by the “hardness of their hearts”, and desensitized because they were “callous”.
Paul also described the result “they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.” Their lusts had no ending thus they were slaves to the hopeless pursuit of more and more of nothing that contained and true or lasting value.
The Lord God those who have surrendered to the Lordship of Christ as adults, and even teens, recall the sort of hopeless and senseless “chasing after the wind” that epitomized their choices and priorities; waking every morning desperate to prove-value in the eyes of others—who are themselves also desperate to prove their value to others who are desperate to prove their value to others ... all equally clueless about what is truly valuable.
What is the practical daily-value of knowing the huge chasm between who we were and who we are, because of “Whose” we are, and how critical that is in our battle to successfully resist Satan’s manipulations?
They “old man” Paul described earlier is a constant target of the Enemy, his evil scheming is designed to find any weakness by which he may draw us back into our pre-salvation confusion.
How have you found a way to avoid the people and the places that are rife with temptation, never underestimating either our vulnerability or our enemy?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where the influence of the world poisons you to the freedom that is right-thinking and right-living in Christ.
Today I will confess and repent, seek and accept the forgiveness of the Lord God, and invest in the priorities and relationships that keep me focused on the Lord.
4:20 But you did not learn about Christ like this,
4:21 if indeed you heard about him and were taught in him, just as the truth is in Jesus.
4:22 You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires,
4:23 to be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
4:24 and to put on the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.
Lord, You have made me new—in Your existence outside of created-time You see me already made-new. May I see myself as You do, pressing-away the things that might soil my robes-of-righteousness, pressing-toward the things that draw me nearer to You.
Paul reminded the Ephesians that if they were truly saved then they would have been taught to “... lay aside the old man who is being corrupted” (as a part of their salvation-education).
He emphasized that the corruption of the temporal flesh was continual and that temptations of the flesh did not end at salvation.
“... the truth is in Jesus.” We are “... to be renewed in The Spirit of your mind”, which is to say that we are renewed by the Holy Spirit who dwells within and we are to have our spiritual-selves renewed; our thinking will thereby be radically changed. The change that comes to the way we think, heart-change, is the real-change. Change in our external conduct may or not be real as it may be evidence of internal change or merely something done to seek the approval of others.
Righteousness: ”the state of him who is such as he ought to be”http://net.bible.org/dictionary.php?word=Righteousness
Holiness: ”conformed in all things to the will of God”
http://net.bible.org/dictionary.php?word=Holiness
Truth: that which is opposed to falsehood”
http://net.bible.org/dictionary.php?word=Truth
(Truth is defined by Jesus and found in Him. Knowing Jesus is how we know truth.)
While we move in the direction of holiness and righteousness we must be realistic that perfection can never be ours until we lose what Paul referred to as "this body of death" and are made completely new in Heaven.
Picture yourself as the outline of a heart filled with squares; each square is a piece of you. Imagine that you are driving in rush-hour traffic and are stressed, or you are dealing with a difficult boss or co-worker or family member, or you are struggling with an addiction, bad habit, or an obsession. How do you surrender these things, one-by-one, to the Lordship of Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit? How do you partner with The Lord God to keep them under His control as you move on to the next and the next, making incremental progress?
It is folly to invest a great deal of energy in the non-Biblical philosophies of “positive mental attitude”, and it is misleading others and ourselves to believe that we can master our imperfections using only our own strength. Real and lasting change comes in partnership with the Lord God where we provide a willing heart and He provides the wisdom and strength.
When have you experienced the Lord God causing change where the world's philosophies and politics have failed you?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to the next place where He wants to partner with you to “take captive” one more as-yet unmastered weakness.
Today I follow where the Holy Spirit leads. I will thank the Lord God for the truth that we may, with the help of the Holy Spirit. resist “deceitful desires”, have our minds are renewed to pre-Fall Eden clarity, and that we may live more-and-more holy and righteous.
4:25 Therefore, having laid aside falsehood, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
4:26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger.
4:27 Do not give the devil an opportunity.
4:28 The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need.
4:29 You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear.
4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
4:31 You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk.
4:32 Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.
Lord, You protect Your Church (believers) from sin through mutual-accountability and when we are faithful in enforcing Your love-based standard we will have a healthy and safe household of faith. May I seek accountability and warn others when they are without.
Paul directed the Ephesians to always be honest with one another inside the church. He explained that righteous anger is appropriate but that one is never to sin in that anger. (e.g. one may be righteously-angry when someone misquotes the Bible in order to manipulate another for personal gain, but one does not curse at that person or physically-strike them.)
When he warned the Ephesians to not allow the sun to “go down on the cause of your anger” he was addressing the cause and not the symptom; righteous anger at sin inside of the Christian community, insisting that such sin must be immediately confronted “... do not let the sun go down on the cause”.
The NET Bible translator’s notes observe that this appears to be a reference to church discipline as a means of “preventing the devil from gaining a foothold” and furthermore and encouragement for church discipline that is timely and not delayed.
Paul reminded the Ephesians that the devil actively-sought opportunities to lead them into sin and to harm the fellowship—when they did not discipline themselves they created opportunities for the evil one rather than for the Lord God.
Discipline within our fellowship of believers is to be conducted in love (see Eph. 4:1-6) so that those administering the discipline are themselves not drawn into sin.
Paul described some of the sins that they were to avoid.
He warned them that while their salvation was secure, based on the “first downpayment of their salvation”, the indwelling-presence of the Holy Spirit—that same presence meant that every time they sinned they grieved Him.
When our brother or sister sins we must confront that sin immediately and in love, treating them as we would want to be treated, with respect and with a common commitment to persevere along the path to confession, repentance, forgiveness, and restoration.
Does it help to overcome our desire to avoid conflict if we remember that when we tolerate sin within our fellowship it festers and presents a poor model for others, especially the less spiritually mature, and it provides a spiritual point of entry for the Enemy?
Paul’s list of stealing, laziness, crass talk, bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk are sins we must respond to immediately, bit they are not the only sins for which we must watch.
When have you observed the Lord God calling upon a fellowship to respond decisively to sin; what was the result of an obedient response, or the consequences of a failure to respond?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a sin in your own walk that you are failing to address.
Today I will confess and repent, seek and accept the forgiveness of the Lord God, and I will ask a fellow believer to be my accountability and prayer-partner as I partner with the Holy Spirit to purge that sin from my life.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Ephesians”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in October of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The Apostle Paul, having reminded his readers of the glory and promise of God, our need for His grace and provision, our new standing before God, as both individuals and as a family of believers, the magnificence of God, a healthy perspective of suffering in the life of a believer, the love, power and provision of God, and His calling to a life of holiness, now described with greater specificity how one could live a life of holiness.
Ephesians Chapter 5 may be subdivided into seven subsections: 5:1-2 which describes what is to follow based on what Paul has just shared in the prior chapter, 5:3-5 where he provides a summary of some concerns, 5:6-14 includes a warning as to negative consequences, 5:15-17 promotes wisdom, 5:18-21 how we are to interact one to another, 5:22-31 Paul uses marriage as an illustration, 5:32-33 he closes with a clarification of the prior section.
Live in Love
5:1 Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children
5:2 and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
Lord, Your love transforms. May I be teachable so that You may love others through me.
“Therefore” ... Paul described what was like to follow based on what he has just shared in the prior chapter; because we are called to lives of holiness (see Ephesians chapter 4) we are to “be imitators of God as dearly beloved children”, we are to live (walk) “in love” (out of hearts informed by Christ in us through the Holy Spirit of God).
It is generally easier to talk about theoretical holiness than it is to address the details of what that looks like in daily living. The Apostle Paul had to strike a balance between “legalism” and “license”, the error of his former thought-patterns as a legalistic “pharisee of pharisee’s” versus the devious efforts of the Enemy to constantly lure people back into immorality.
As was typical of Paul he again reminded his readers of their love-debt to Christ for His sacrifice before he brought the hard-Word of the Lord God’s challenge that they live as-Christ, rather than as as-worldly.
The sacrifice of Jesus, and the love-debt we owe Him, motivates us to live a life dedicated to increasing holiness.
What is the practical meaning of “... live in love”, as Paul described God’s desire for His children, in your life?
The amazing and incredible truth is that the Lord God, through Paul, has said that we are His “dearly loved children”.
When have you, or someone you know, been a successful-imitator of the Lord God (not continually or perfectly)—as expressed through a life that demonstrates an intentionally- sacrificial giving of self—to other believers—in love?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one sin, one obsession, or one act of rebellion which is blocking your progress toward more-holy living.
Today I will confess and repent, seek and accept the Lord God’s forgiveness, and surrender to the Holy Spirit as He leads me toward holiness. I will welcome a fellow believer whom He may bring to walk alongside me—ministering to me through prayer and encouragement.
5:3 But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints.
5:4 Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting—all of which are out of character—but rather thanksgiving.
5:5 For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Lord, You are holy and You are our model of perfection, the goal of our discipleship. May I keep my eyes on You, rather than doctrines and traditions, expectations and standards, created by mere humans.
The Apostle Paul provided a summary of concerns; “sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, ... greed ... vulgar speech, foolish talk, ... coarse jesting ...”
He reminded his readers that who they were was because of who they had become because of Whose they were. He chose his phrases, contrasting the things of the world with the things of the faithful carefully “not fitting for the saints” and “all of which are out of character”.
As a visiting professor to a seminary once put it, “We are saints, children of God, viewed by God through the filter of Christ as cleansed, clothed in pure white, so we press away those things that would bring a stain.”
Paul provided an alternative mindset to the selfish obsessions of flesh and of the world, for the faithful believer—instead of all of those things “... rather thanksgiving”.
Some of us are more fussy about matters of cleanliness and organization than others. We all have places in our lives where we prefer clean over dirty and order over chaos; it may be in the food we eat, the tools we use, or the clothes we wear. God asks that we be as attentive to “.. the temple of His Holy Spirit” as we are to these other things.
Does the perspective that “We are saints, children of God, viewed by God through the filter of Christ as cleansed, clothed in pure white, so we press away those things that would bring a stain.” encourage you to take a stronger stand against sin in your life?
There are many places and ways that the Enemy tries to draw us into “sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, ... greed ... vulgar speech, foolish talk, ... coarse jesting ...”
When have you experienced the power of knowing your identity in God’s eyes and that empowered you to resist being drawn into “sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, ... greed ... vulgar speech, foolish talk, ... coarse jesting …”?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an influence that threatens your purity before the Lord God.
Today I am choosing to have a heart of thanksgiving for the many gifts of the Lord God and I commit to partner with the Holy Spirit for victory in the test avoiding temptation, and if already a temptation, victory in resisting sin and in rolling-back the temptation to a test.
Live in the Light
5:6 Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience.
5:7 Therefore do not be partakers with them,
5:8 for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light—
5:9 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth—
5:10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
5:11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
5:12 For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention.
5:13 But all things being exposed by the light are made evident.
5:14 For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!”
Lord, You rescued us from darkness, and You shine Your light in and through us. May I be faithfully alert to avoid drifting back into darkness and to make myself available to be Your light in this dark and dying world.
Paul offered a clear and chilling warning as to the negative consequences should we fail to intentionally seek lives of holiness; “... no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy ... has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
His descriptive phrases included “disobedience ... darkness ... unfruitful deeds ... shameful even to mention …”, which described every Ephesian at one moment of their lives or another.
All was not hopeless because their hope was not in their purity but in that of Christ.
Their means to overcome those disqualifying attributes was the Holy Spirit.
Their perfected-purity would not come until the threshold of Heaven where they would receive a “new body” .
Paul’s choice of words was intentional “... such a person is an idolater”. An idolater is one who places something in their life in a higher position than God; the prohibition of such was the root of the first rebellion in Heaven, the rebellion in Eden, and was the first of the Ten Commandments of God “You shall have no Gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3).
He warned the Ephesians to be discerning “Let nobody deceive you with empty words ...”, echoing his plea for discernment in Eph. 4.
Paul, in vs 5:8-10, contrasted all of this with hope “... for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light—for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth—trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”
He spoke of a process “trying to learn” rather than an expectation of instant holiness in this fallen world.
Paul also appeared to paraphrase from Isaiah “Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!” (Isa. 26:19, 51:17, 52:1, 60:1) Note here that we are “dead” IF we are without Christ and that we “Arise” with Him. Paul harkened back to Eph. 4:21 where he qualified his message to the church (believers) as intended for those who were listening but not yet saved “... if indeed you heard about Him [Christ] and were taught in Him [Christ], just as the truth is in Jesus.”
There is an old saying "Be afraid, be very afraid!" Choices have consequences, the most important being our very salvation, all else orbits that one most-meaningful exercise of free will. A truly saved person shows "fruit" of the presence of the Holy Spirit of God and that fruit is multiplied in an intentionally obedient child of God.
What are some practical ways to practice the Eph. 5:10 command that we be "... trying to learn"? (The phrase indicates that it will be challenging and tht it must be an intentional commitment—we make an investment in partnership with Christ to read His Book, to study His Book for understanding, to share His Book with others, and then to live-intentionally in accountability with others to better assure that our lives reflect His truth.)
Once again comes the Lord God's warning to resist temptation (don't fail the test), to avoid drifting back into the old ways (so that you are source of purity), and the encouragement that His Holy Spirit walks with us throughout the process of our journey toward holiness.
When have you, knowing the consequences and the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit within, been were successful in passing the test and so that you resisted temptation, or that if already tempted you resisted acting upon it?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a specific test, which could become a specific temptation for you, or a specific temptation which threatens to become an act of sin.
Today I am choosing to resist and to partner with the Holy Spirit in discerning and resisting the deceit of the Enemy who tries to drag me down.
Live Wisely
5:15 Therefore be very careful how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
5:16 taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
5:17 For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is.
Lord, You do not promise us more than today, and you instruct us to be wise in living according to Your perfect will. May I tale the time and make the effort to study and apply Your Word to my life.
The Apostle Paul promoted the importance of wisdom; at that time he would have been cognizant that Proverbs 8:22-31 taught the Ephesians that wisdom existed prior to Creation, it was not a new concept and was sometimes personalized as “she” by Old Testament authors who led their listeners and readers to appreciate the personhood of the Godhead in every attribute.
He confronted the Ephesians with good and bad choices, alternatives and consequences, “... be very careful how you live—not as unwise but as wise ... taking advantage of every opportunity ... do not be foolish, but be wise ...”
Paul explained the importance of good stewardship of time “... for the days are evil.” meaning that one could never reclaim a day that had passed, once used unwisely it had been lost to the best service for God.
He instructed his readers how to “... become wise ...” which is “... by understanding what the Lord’s will is.” This brought-forward what he had been discussing about their relationship with God, and with one-another, and it foreshadows the text to follow.
Every morning we awaken with choices to make about the usage of our resources and time and at the end of every day the wise will reflect on the quality of their choices.
How has the leading of the Holy Spirit, Who guides us in the way of wisdom through the Bible and who challenges us to understand what is the will of God, made a difference in your life?
Wisdom is bringing the knowledge we have of the Word of God to bear upon our choices. We continually seek greater understanding, as well as partnership with others, for accountability, caring, prayer, and support.
When has Biblical wisdom led you to make a better decision than you typically made prior to your salvation and discipleship?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where He wants to help you to resist the distractions of the Enemy which are keeping you from your Bible study and application.
Today I commit to set aside time every day for you, Lord God, and I will follow the leading of Your Holy Spirit in removing and resisting the many schemes of the enemy to interfere.
5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit,
5:19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord,
5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5:21 and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Lord, You have given us words and music to fill and to guide our hearts with Your love, that we might drown-out the worldly intoxicants of temptation to sin. May I fill my life with Your music and words.
Paul described for the Ephesians how they were to interact with one-another; beginning first with a warning to not “get drunk with wine”. (This was not necessarily exclusively a literal reference to alcohol-caused intoxication but another reminder of clear-thinking and good stewardship.)
He warned them against this “debauchery”. (The modern definition of debauchery refers to “sensual pleasures” but an archaic definition may be more on-target “seduction from duty” the fine art of manipulating one away from duty—the work of the Enemy to draw us away from faithful service to God.)
As always Paul offered a healthier and more God-honoring alternative to that debauchery, “... but be filled by the Spirit”. The context here makes it clear that he was continuing his theme of knowing and obeying God, the text does not indicate that he spoke of to so-called 'charismatic gifts’.
Note the text following “... speaking to one another in psalms” which are primarily wisdom literature, “... hymns” which are generally methodologies for memorization with the dual benefit of value in comfort and worship, and “... spiritual songs” (songs that are faithful to the Word of God but not literal repetitions which could easily degrade into the “vain repetitions of the pagans” (Mat. 6:7), or become ritualistic ranting.
Paul then switched mid-sentence from addressing corporate/interpersonal interactions to the heart-preparation of each of the individuals as they approach those interactions “... singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord.” He then added one more heart-condition qualifier “... always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”, again placing God first and humility toward others in the forefront.
The Lord God prepares us to speak love to one another by us first preparing ourselves "... singing and making music" in our hearts to You "... always giving thanks to God ...” then “... for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ".
How easy is it to get caught up in manipulating or being manipulated by the environment of a corporate gathering, be it a charismatic and a otherwise gifted speaker (1 Cor. 1:12-17), a talented dramatic and/or musical performer, a controversial or risk-taking leader or peer, or a cleverly sequenced series of activities, songs, and emotional appeals?
When was there a time when you were desperate for relief from a troubling situation such as loneliness, depression, hopelessness, fear, and even boredom, and you looked for a 'magical' solution and you found it—only to later realize that it was not genuine. (There is an old country-western song called "Lie to Me" and more recently a television series by the same name which explores body language for clues to deception in solving criminal cases.)
When have you experienced genuine worship which began with a thankful surrender to God, followed by placing others before yourself, and concluded in a desire for pure and undistracted worship. (If you cannot do this then you need to reconsider your understanding and practice of corporate, individual, and whole-life Biblical worship.)
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a brother or sister in-Christ for whom it will be difficult for me to pray but for whom He desires that I do so.
Today I am choosing to pray for at least one brother or sister and to encourage at least one brother or sister by sharing Your Word or a song of praise.
Exhortations to Households
5:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord,
5:23 because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church—he himself being the savior of the body.
5:24 But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
5:25 Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her
5:26 to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word,
5:27 so that he may present the church to himself as glorious—not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.
5:28 In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
5:29 For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church,
5:30 for we are members of his body.
5:31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.
Lord, You created and blessed, guide and love Your Church (believers) and You sacrificed for it so that You may one day gathering it (all believers) into intimate and eternal relationship with You. May I study what you have done for the Church as I apply and teach what that means to a couple's relationship with one-another in marriage.
Paul used marriage as an illustration; he began with a reminder that Christ is the savior of the body (he taught elsewhere that every part of the body is equally important and valuable) thus competent scholarship does not allow one to read-in a greater value for a male over a female or a husband over a wife. This text is primarily about the responsibilities of the husband—whose role model must be Christ.
Read carefully Paul’s clarification of his primary purpose in Eph. 5:32b “... I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church.” He goes on in 5:33 to acknowledge that he has a dual-purpose for the understanding of marriage but the clarification of 5:32b should be a warning to those who attempt to proof-text in the defense of thuggish husbands.
Paul intentionally modified everything in his letter that preceded when he wrote “... --He Himself [Christ] being the savior of the body.”; therefore, when the Ephesians read “Wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord” they were compelled to reflect upon why they had choose to submit to the Lord. (He was asking for the wife to make an obedient choice, but not an unconditional one, as her husband had obligations as well.) Some translations render the text “your husbands in the Lord”.
In Eph. 5:25-26 he amplified his qualification “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the Word.” Note: There are several important elements; “loved” and “gave” are past-tense to emphasize that His work as “the Word” was predicated on His first loving the Church (believers) and that His work of giving Himself “for her” was finished. This is equivalent to the act of marriage where the husband, motivated by love, gives Himself to his wife—sacrificing his non-married lifestyle (everything related to his pre-marriage relational lifestyle must be surrendered). The wife “is sanctified”, set apart from single women, so that her husband may then be used of God to “cleanse her with the washing of the Word”. A husband serves his wife at the behest of the Lord.
Eph. 5:27 refined the ultimate purpose of Christ’s investment in the church “... so that He may present the church to Himself as glorious -- not having a stain or wrinkle, or other such blemish, but holy and blameless.” Jesus the Christ was to present The Church to Himself, our Lord God. (There have been sick men who have mistaken this to mean that their obsession should be the forced-legalistic perfection of their wives. In full-context this is clearly neither within the capacity nor responsibility of the husband -- holiness is less taught than caught, rather not imposed but chosen.)
Returning to 5:24 “But as the church [believers] submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” We have already learned that the husband is an agent of the Lord in his wife’s life, we know that nothing is of value to the Christian that is not of the Lord, therefore “everything” refers to the purpose for which the Lord called the two into marriage and the process of holiness that follows—sanctification—there is nothing in the text about only women washing dishes or wifely-obligations to submit to sinful-orders from a husband in rebellion against the Lord (such a man is spiritually-impotent and an enemy of God).
Paul promoted the fullest-stewardship of the gifts of the wife, as found in Proverbs 31:10-31, and he would have had that in-mind, together with the esteem of her husband “at the city gates” where the elders provided spiritual guidance to the people.
Note in 5:27 that the church is a kind of extension of Christ; in 5:28 “In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” “Loves” is an action word, the action of giving himself for her in the process of holiness that follows her sanctification in marriage.
5:29a “For no one has ever hated his own body but feeds it and takes care of it ...”, Paul here addressed healthy people—not troubled ones who self-mutilate or who dwell in lies of the Enemy that they are somehow worthless—Jesus died on the Cross as the absolute and unchallengeable-in-all-of-Creation declaration of our value to God. Just as we eat and drink and wash and exercise and clothe and care for our bodies, Christ does this for “the body of Christ” the church (believers) and the husband is to do the same for his wife.
5:29b “... just as Christ also did for the church, for we are members of His body.” Paul reaffirmed the context of this discussion, we are all (male and female) members of the spiritual body of Christ, therefore we must seek after the same things for one another as He seeks for every member of His body.
Paul concluded by reminding his readers that this teaching is mostly about the duties of the husband and his sacrifice to facilitate the holiness of his wife. “The man will leave ...” and “... be joined to his wife ...” and “... the two will become one flesh.”; linking to the prior text Paul intended that the Ephesians would understand him to mean “... as Christ is joined to His church.”
A Christian woman must never marry a non-Christian man, nor may a Christian man marry a non-Christian woman, such is contrary to the clear teaching of the Bible and is an act of rebellion which neither should not expect the Lord God to bless. There is no such thing as dating (the common concept of "dating" is itself fraught with fraud and temptation) or marriage for the purpose of evangelism (sometimes called "missionary dating or missionary marriage). It is even dubious if there is any wisdom in marrying anyone who is not somewhat close to oneself in spiritual maturity.
What are some circumstances where some people become Christians after marriage (where they were both previously unsaved) and find themselves in the same conflict as a first century married Jew who was saved (“completed”)? Must they not consult the teaching of the Bible, to not force the unsaved mate to leave nor to not force them to remain, as the preferred goal is to be such a God-honoring witness that the spouse will also be saved (1 Cor. 7:12-16).
Just as a woman needs to clearly understand the decision (when entering into marriage) that she is making is to follow the spiritual leadership of her husband, trusting him to be a faithful servant of God, so also the man needs to understand that he makes a solemn pledge before the Lord God to bless his wife as the Lord's agent in her process toward holiness.
When have you been aware of someone making a romantic-decision, based on God's teaching, rather than based on lesser human tradition or on the lust of the flesh? Have you had the opportunity in a counseling/encouraging/mentoring context to encourage someone to do so?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of His love and sacrifice for you as you are part of ("the Church") and that marriage is your opportunity (if married) to emulate Him. Thank the Lord God also for teaching you how to serve others in marriage, expressing grace and humility as you build up your mate to God's glory and in God's service.
Today I am choosing to pray for marriage, my own if I am married and for others if not. I also pray that should the Lord lead me to marriage that I will be fully-faithful to His priorities from the first moment of the process leading to marriage and throughout my marriage. I commit to encourage and to lift up in prayer at least one specific married person right now.
5:32 This mystery is great—but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
5:33 Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Lord, You gave Yourself in order to enable believers "The Church" to become "one flesh" with You. May I invest the same way in my marriage, if married, pray for all Christian marriages (whether I am married or not), and understand-fully the commitment I am making if I am single and considering marriage.
Paul began this part of his letter to the Ephesians with a clarification of the prior section, using the phrase “This mystery ...”, because he was teaching them—using the illustration of human marriage—about the relationship between Christ and His Church (all believers).
The way that man and woman become “one flesh” was to be understood as the way that the Lord God was creating a one-flesh relationship with His “bride, The Church.
[Note: The term mystery generally refers to something that occurs in the unseen spiritual, rather in than the visible realm, yet it also may refer to something that is difficult to comprehend.]
Paul’s term “is great” acknowledged that humans will have to expend some time in prayerful study if they are to comprehend and honor it.
He made certain that he was not misunderstood, reemphasizing his primary purpose in Eph. 5:32b “... I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church.” As already stated earlier Paul goes on in 5:33 to acknowledge that he has a dual-purpose for the understanding of marriage but he offered the clarification of 5:32b as a warning to those who might attempt to proof-text his words in the defense of thuggish husbands.
Paul’s theme was that it was time for married Christians to step-up. Marriage was (and is) an act of sanctification—agreeing to be set apart for a special partnership in the process of holiness. Marriage is not for everyone because, as Paul remarks elsewhere, many practical aspects of marriage (and children) represent a distraction from the things of the Lord and also provided a pressure-point for the Enemy to extort cooperation.
Those who are contemplating marriage need to better understand the nature of Biblical marriage before they enter into courtship. This is one of many gross failures of church leaders for 2,000+ years and the evidence of that failure is in the broken homes all around us.
[Note: This Web site contains excerpts from a doctorate thesis which documents these practical matters http://bibleseven.com/thesis.html ]
Paul's last word to the Ephesians “... each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” bears careful contextual reflection. Paul was speaking to believers, not unbelievers; obedient believers, not believers in rebellion (the definition of rebellion requiring discipline is addressed elsewhere but would include volitional and unrepentant sin both physical and theological). He addressed the critical need for church discipline—and he was not addressing spiritually-divided households. [Note: Paul was always precise in defining his audience and we know from the first chapter of Ephesians that he was addressing believers. Were to have been addressing divided households, or unbelievers, in chapter 5 he would have stated such clearly.)
The Lord God's challenge is that married Christians need to step-up to a standard of sacrificial-investment in one-another equal to that of His sacrificial investment in His Church.
What are some ways that every Christian may support the "holy estate" of marriage? How might we do a better job of teaching this to children, youth, young adult and adult singles.
The Lord God has sanctified the value of marriage and provided a stern warning that it is not something into which a Christian should enter lightly.
When have you observed a couple, both believers who desired to intentionally honor God in their marriage, demonstrate the fruits of their faith-walk in the way that they encouraged and served one-another?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you at least one person who may benefit from this teaching.
Today I am choosing to pray that marriage will be seen through Your eyes rather than the silly and shallow eyes of the secular entertainment world, and I will pray for the health and protection of a specific marriage; if married I will add my own to those prayers.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Ephesians”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in October of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The Apostle Paul had reminded his readers of the glory and promise of God, our need for His grace and provision, our new standing before God—as both individuals and as a family of believers, the magnificence of God, a healthy perspective of suffering in the life of a believer, the love, power and provision of God, and His calling to a life of holiness, and greater specificity as to how one lived a life of holiness.
In Chapter 6 he addressed parent-child relationships, slave-master relationships, and spiritual warfare.
6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.
6:2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely,
6:3 “that it may go well with you and that you will live a long time on the earth.”
6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Lord, Your blessings are conditional, they come in response to obedience. May I be salt and light in my family and community because of my obedience to You as Your devoted child.
Paul begins with a paraphrase from the 10 Commandments “Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. (Exo. 20:12, Deut. 5:16) then addresses parents “... do not provoke your children to anger.”
Only a few notes are in order as the verses, at least as translated in the NET Bible, are self-explanatory.
In 6:1 the phrase “... in the Lord” may be understood in one of three ways;
The first is to infer that Paul means Christian parents—this is reasonable since his primary audience throughout the Book of Ephesians is believers.
[Note: Paul does not specifically address the obedience of children toward non-Christian parents and the admonition to the parents to “raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” may be taken to affirm exclusivity in the text to Christian parents; however, Paul is not condoning the rebellion of children against a parent merely because they are not believers.]
The second understanding infers that Paul intends that the children remember that they are Christians and that they must view their parents through the eyes of the Lord, being obedient, patient, and prayerful.
There is nothing in the context or the literal text to justify the exclusion of either the first or second inference/understanding.
The third understanding would misrepresent the apostle Paul as he does not offer “raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” as a mere suggestion but as both a way to avoid “... provoking your children to anger” and as strong directive for a true Christian parent; therefore, one may not rightly-infer that avoiding conflict and avoiding discipline is a wise form of parenting.
[Note: Paul does not encourage parents to delegate this discipline and instruction to others but is telling them that it is their direct responsibility.]
[Note: The Biblical definition of anger, it’s sources, and the correct response were discussed earlier in the Ephesians study series, for our purposes here suffice to say that absent maturity in the Lord every child will be angry and hopeless.]
[Note: Our eternal and supreme ‘parent’ is the Lord God, therefore, a Christian child may find no parental-order to sin acceptable; though a child must be willing to accept the worldly-consequences of righteous-obedience (to God) when they take a stand for holiness. It is remarkable how often a child (or an adult) may be willing to risk and receive punishment for sinful rebellion but how rare it is that they will do so for righteousness, even in Christian homes. The influence of the Fall is powerful.]
The Lord God knows what is best. God says that children are to obey their parents since there are few other sources of authority who care more or understand better; God gives parents to children for a reason. Raising a child in the discipline and instruction of the Lord helps them to be more emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually healthy and safe.
What are practical examples of the meaning of “... do not provoke your children to anger.”?
The Lord God knows that when we “raise them [children—literal and spiritual] up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” we equip them to be more emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually healthy and safe.
When have you observed the consequences of a parent’s failure to raise their child the way that the Bible teaches may cause them to drift into an angry relationship with the parent(s) and the world?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a child, be he or she a literal child or a child-in-faith, new to the family of God, for whom He would like you to pray and to minister in His Name.
Today I will offer to teach the discipline and instruction of the Lord the one whom the Holy Spirit has directed me. If I am that ‘child’ I choose to be obedient, patient, and prayerful as I humbly submit to the teaching of the one(s) whom God has sent to disciple me.
6:5 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ,
6:6 not like those who do their work only when someone is watching—as people-pleasers—but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.
6:7 Obey with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord and not people,
6:8 because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, this will be rewarded by the Lord.
6:9 Masters, treat your slaves the same way, giving up the use of threats, because you know that both you and they have the same master in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
Lord, You require that we give our best to every effort, no matter the circumstances. Our most important reward is with You and not here in this temporary world. May I remember this, especially when the task is dreary or unpleasant, and therefore be salt and light by example.
Paul addressed an unfortunate condition of man since early in his existence, that of slavery, in which circumstance one man compels another to provide labor without freedom. "Master" could refer to "overseer" or "slave-owner". It is important to note that Paul is in no way condoning slavery.
[Note: Slavery is a heinous tool of greed and oppression, sometimes one of the ‘spoils’ of war, sometimes driven by the selfish pursuit of power, wealth, and worldly prestige, and sometimes an expression of some twisted demographic superiority. The use of the terms “master” and “slave in this case do not appear to refer to a context parallel to African slaves captured and sold by their peers to pre-Civil War American plantations or Caribbean and central/south American plantations, nor the slavery known in Africa, Asia, and elsewhere in the past and even today but to the more common “bond-servant” arrangement.]
A bond-servant is a Biblically-described sub-category of slavery entered into willingly to resolve debt and was generally protected with a limited 7-year maximum length and dismissal at 30 years of age. Physical abuse of a bond-servant was historically-uncommon. The other most common form of slavery was typically unlike the righteously-condemned brutal and heinous slavery, which has historically received the greatest attention, but rather was one in which slaves (however they fell into bondage) were allowed a great deal of freedom to earn money, own property, and to raise their families. Many bond-servants as well as many slaves, especially those captured in war, were educated and thus were used as care-givers and teachers to children.
In Paul’s address to “Masters” he warned them to treat their slaves “... as though serving the Lord ...”. The NET Bible transliteration of the text immediately following says “...because ... both you and they have the same master in Heaven ...” actually reads “... because of both they and you, the Lord is, in Heaven ...” which implies that Jesus is Lord of both because he is addressing Christians who are in slavery.
In the Sudan today the children and parents of the Bahai, Christian and competing Muslim sect religious groups are kidnapped and forced into slavery by brutal and lawless militias. The ugliness of slavery, as but one visible evidence of fallen-nature of man, lives on.
How do you handle the challenge that when we are as 'bond-servants' as a contractor or in a place of employment, we have agreed to perform a service in return for a benefit—within the rules of that organization; do you serve with the integrity you would if they were Jesus?
When we are the equivalent of the master or the over-seer—do we treat the one(s) we supervise with the honor due a fellow, or potential, child of God?
When have you observed an example of someone who handled authority in a Biblical manner. What was the result in the workplace?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a way that He wants you to change the way that you handle authority, whether as one humbled by it, or being humble in your use of it. Ask Him to identify a specific person with whom you have been interacting with a less-Biblical attitude than you should.
Today I will intentionally and prayerfully bring myself into alignment with the Word of God. Today I am choosing to ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me and will report back to them the results. I will thank the Lord God that as a bond-servant in a contract or a job I may be a positive witness to the truth of His promise and power as I serve my employer with the integrity I would were they Jesus. If I am in a role that is the equivalent of the master or the over-seer may my conduct honor your name as I treat the one I supervise with the honor due a fellow, or potential, child of God.
Exhortations for Spiritual Warfare
6:10 Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power.
6:11 Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.
6:13 For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.
Lord, You warn us that we are in the midst of spiritual warfare, and You provide us with the tools for victory. May I be wise in gathering and using those tools daily.
Paul addressed the threat of the “schemes” or craftiness of “... the devil ...” and the need to defend oneself through the power that comes from God “... be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of His power.”
The Apostle is not stuttering or repeating himself, he is saying two similar but different things; first, “... be strengthened in the Lord”; that is, to learn and to apply what the Lord God is teaching in order to mature, second “... be strengthened ... in the strength of His power.”; that is, to leverage His power as your power as a Child of God.
“Clothe yourself with the full armor of God ...” was how he addressed the how of leveraging God’s power, and “... so that you may be able to stand ...” addressed the why.
[Note: He used the word “may”, that is because one has to have done the first part of “... strengthening in the Lord”, so as to be discerning enough to know when, informed enough to know how, and strong enough to act despite ones fear, because “... our struggle” denotes the reality of the struggle, not that it may be avoided or ignored, and explains that “... is not against flesh and blood”; therefore, we must not be too distracted by the things in the visible world, “... but against the rulers, the powers ... of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.”. The battle is a spiritual battle and we are in it—like it or not.
Paul concluded with a summary; “... take up the full armor of God” to “... be able to stand your ground” “... on the evil day”. The “... evil day” is to come, and is now, both at once; every day is an “evil day” as we only get one chance to stand with Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit when tested, else we to surrender our position to the Enemy, which once gone means that we have failed “to stand” and it is not reclaimable. No do-overs. The “evil day” is also yet to come in the existential sense of the day when the chains are released and the Enemy and all of his desperately evil demons are allowed to mount a final attack. In that day we will need every shred of “in Him” and from Him” spiritual power which we should have been storing up and testing out all-along.
We each have our struggles, usually more than one. The symptom of the substance abuser is their physiological addition but there is a back-story that has a spiritual element. The obsessive-compulsive seeks control due to the false belief that through a forced and artificial ordering of their environment they may create a bubble of safety in a challenging world, but there is something more to their fears. The one in slavery to gambling, money, pornography, power, prestige, or some other idol also does so out of a false need to compensate for something and is a casualty in need of reinforced armor in waging their part of the larger spiritual battle.
What are some specific ways to practically apply Paul's teaching.
Although we all have weaknesses in our imperfect flesh, because of grace, in and through Jesus we are made strong. Acknowledge that the battle is first spiritual and then physical and that we must have His full armor to have any hope of safety.
When have you faced a challenge in your life where you have applied Paul's teaching?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a clearer understanding and implement of the disciplines necessary to prevail in spiritual warfare and where you most need strengthening.
Today I will humbly receive a better understanding of what are my weaknesses and what are the ways that the Enemy has been exploiting them. I will select one weakness and ask someone I trust to assist me with accountability, encouragement, and prayer as I partner with the Holy Spirit to overcome it.
6:14 Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,
6:15 by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace,
6:16 and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
6:17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Lord, You equip us for battle because our choice for Jesus places us in opposition to the evil one, incurring his venal wrath. May I remember that the attacks are coming, both obvious and subtle, and therefore not be found unprepared and unarmed.
Paul addressed the how-to of the “... full armor of God ...” in defending oneself against the devil using the visual imagery of a Roman soldier. “Stand firm therefore, by”:
“... fastening, the belt of truth around your waist,” (This is to what most other elements of the armor would be attached—truth, God’s absolute truth, is the central connecting value.)
… and
“... by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,” (Clipped to the belt to keep it from moving the breastplate is defensive in purpose and is a result of applying God’s truth to our life through righteous living that keeps us safer from temptation.)
… and
“... by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace,” (The soldier’s feet were covered and protected, the believer is covered by positional standing as a child of God and protected by His power and the certainty of salvation through the peace that comes in accepting the propitiation of Christ which established our right-standing with God with whom we were formerly eternal enemies due to sin. Many of Satan’s lies go back to the Garden of Eden—certainty of Who God is and of His certain-promise to us as His eternal children is powerful protection indeed.)
“... and in all of this,”
“... by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (The shield was a defensive tool covered in metal as enemies would literally set the old wooden shields ablaze with flaming arrows, so also the believer needs the shield of faith which provides both salvation and the ‘ultrafidian’ (beyond faith) capacity to fearlessly serve God knowing that he is our defender.)
… and
“And take the helmet of salvation ...” (Another defensive tool in Paul’s illustration, looking back to Isaiah 59:17, refers to justice and righteousness.)
… and
“... the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (The only tool primarily used for offense, though surely also defensive as well. In addition to the two foot long short-sword carried by a Roman soldier for close-in fighting Paul may have had in mind the sword carried by a “bystander” Mark 14:47 and used offensively to defend Jesus from capture, a machete-like sword used against wild animals, roadside attackers, and clearing bushes and branches during off-path travel. A sword is only as useful as the abilities of it’s owner, in the hands of an impulsive or inept person it could escalate an otherwise less-violent confrontation or be taken and turned against them. Similarly the Word of God is an effective and powerful tool in the hands of a “good Berean”, or one readily misquoted and used against the careless believer by the Enemy.)
The Lord God’s absolute truth is the “belt” or anchor we need as a point of reference for stability in a chaotic world. If I view myself as a child of God, a saint, guaranteed Heaven for eternity how my certainty of salvation can help me to ward-off many of Satan’s lies about vulnerabilities that do not exist and fears that are irrational. God gives us, through the Holy Spirit, an “ultrafidian” (beyond faith) capacity to fearlessly serve God “and the very gates of Hell cannot prevail against it”. (Mat. 16:13, Gal. 10, Mal. 1:1-5)
What are some non-legalistic righteous living-based boundaries that can help to keep us safer from temptation when we are tested?
When perfect justice is defined by God, it is certain at the “End”, and it is not confused with a mere human definition of “fairness”. For the same reason, righteousness defines the way I view the world, thus my clear-thinking is protected. The Word of God is an effective and powerful tool in the battle for truth, and in warding-off the attacks of the Enemy; the better we learn to handle that tool the more valuable it will be.
When have you experienced the enemy had been lying to you about something he wanted you to believe was an impossible-to-overcome weakness or vulnerability and a better understanding of the truth of God’s Word set you free?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of His truth, His definition of righteous living, His assurance of salvation, His provision of opportunities for 'ultrafidian’ (beyond faith) service, and His standard for and provision of the last word about justice.
Today I am choosing to thank the Lord God for all of the tools that are in His “full armor”. I am choosing to put on that full armor at the beginning of the day and to walk through the process again later in the day as I feel myself weakening. I will seek an opportunity to encourage a fellow saint to do the same, or to affirm them if they are already doing so.
6:18 With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.
Lord, You have given us Your presence through Your Holy Spirit, and You have instructed that we pray for others with the guidance, perspective, and power of the Spirit. May I remember to Whom I am praying, through Whom I am praying, and for whom I am to raise most of my prayers; others.
Paul instructed the Ephesians to pray “... in the Spirit”, to “... be alert”, and to do so “... with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.”
His purpose to remind believers that their prayers are facilitated by the indwelling Holy Spirit, are motivated by Him, and are blessed. Our prayers are to be righteous, we are to be alert to deception and aware of needs, and as he noted elsewhere to “... pray without ceasing” (1Thess 5:17) for other the requests of other saints.
Paul’s instructions are tied to the preceding text as prayer is part of the “full armor”, it is necessary to wisely use the armor, and is what keeps us grounded in Christ.
Prayers are also designed to keep us constantly-close to the Lord God in conversation so that we remember Whose we are, we remember Who dwells within us, and we remember that we are to pray with hearts of loving-compassion.
The Lord God will bless and protect us if we exercise the discipline to remember to “put on the full armor” every morning there thereby we acknowledge the Holy Spirit.
When you have prayed first thing in the morning did you discover that it got your daylong conversation started with the Lord God?
When we activate the armor we become alert as a good spiritual soldier should be.
Have you experienced that persevering in prayer, especially for others, kept you humble and focused on what was most important to the Lord God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you to remember to put on the full armor of God, to pray without ceasing all day, to be alert to the deception and trickery of the Enemy, and to pray for others so that you remain in a mindset of humble service
Today I am choosing to keep a simple journal of my day and share it with a friend—noting the difference that this spiritual discipline made in my day.
6:19 Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak—that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel,
6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.
Lord, it is Your message and not my own that I speak in Your Name, and my confidence comes from You and is because of You. May I be bold to share Your saving and maturing Word.
Paul asked the Ephesians that they pray in-agreement with him for the challenges that he faced.
Even Paul valued the prayers “in the Spirit” of the saints, raised in-obedience to his prior teaching and with perseverance (without ceasing).
He wanted the Ephesians to understand that no mere human, not even Jesus in the temporary human shell He occupied (and without His full glory), walked without constant refreshment from the Lord God through prayer.
The Ephesian believers had to be far more alert, due to their desperate need for the Lord God’s presence, because their enemies (physical and spiritual) were actively opposing them.
When we awake every morning and begin with a prayer of dependency on the Lord God He will bless that. When we remember fellow saints in prayer, in the morning, and all day—He honors that. When we maintain a continuous conversation with God all day He blesses us with comfort and discernment and wisdom in all that we think, say, and do.
How would you develop a practical discipline to wake every morning and begin with a prayer of dependency on the Lord God, without it becoming like a pagan chant or a mindless ritual?
We have active enemies in both the physical and spiritual realms.
When have you tried maintaining a continuous conversation with God all day? How did He bless you with comfort and discernment and wisdom in all that you thought, said, and did? Compare and contrast that with a different day when you did not do so.
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you to begin your day with a prayer of dependency on the Lord God, to remember a fellow saint or saints by name in the morning and all day in prayer, and that I will maintain a continuous conversation with Him.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to join me in this, and at the end of the day (or some time the following day), we will compare our experiences.
Farewell Comments
6:21 Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you too may know about my circumstances, how I am doing.
6:22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.
6:23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
6:24 Grace be with all of those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Lord, You provide grace and love and peace to Your children, and as we understand that better we experience it more profoundly. May I grow in understanding so that I may be better encouraged and equipped through Your grace and love and peace.
Paul concluded his letter to the Ephesians with a letter-of-introduction for Tychicus and a blessing for all believers.
He promised them a report of praise and of need, from his ministry to them—with the assurance that what they hear about them will “... encourage your hearts”.
Paul commended to them peace and love with faith from “... God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”.
He reminded them that grace is with all “... those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.”
Paul once-again affirmed the divinity of Christ when he referred to Him as “Lord”.
The concluding words of Paul contained a believer-only qualification, and a powerful word of encouragement.
The Lord God’s desire is that though grace and love we will have peace with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Does our Christian-faith flow from an undying love for Jesus that provides the grace we need to live in peace with one-another?
Give thanks to the Lord God that, if you choose the path of faithful-obedience, you will have peace and love with your brothers and sisters in Christ.
When has grace flowed to you, and/or through you to another, as a result of your intentional love-relationship with Jesus?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a specific brother or sister in Christ, with whom a loving and peaceful relationship has been difficult, for whom He wants you to pray and to reconcile.
Today I am committing to pursue peace and love with a difficult brother or sister in-Christ, beginning in prayer and followed by communication and fellowship. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me for success in this reconciliation.
Additional Resources:
Slavery http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=1499
Slavery http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Ephesians”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in October of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Salutation
1:1 From Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.
1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Prayer for the Church
1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you.
1:4 I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you
1:5 because of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.
1:6 For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
1:7 For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God’s grace together with me.
1:8 For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
1:9 And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight
1:10 so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ,
1:11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
Ministry as a Prisoner
1:12 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my situation has actually turned out to advance the gospel:
1:13 The whole imperial guard and everyone else knows that I am in prison for the sake of Christ,
1:14 and most of the brothers and sisters, having confidence in the Lord because of my imprisonment, now more than ever dare to speak the word fearlessly.
1:15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill.
1:16 The latter do so from love because they know that I am placed here for the defense of the gospel.
1:17 The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, because they think they can cause trouble for me in my imprisonment.
1:18 What is the result? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, and in this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 1:19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
Lord, You began a good work in me at salvation, and You continue to perfect Your work in me day by day. May I be devoted to You with a teachable spirit; a faithful disciple.
Paul began with a greeting that included role-descriptions of “overseers” and “deacons”.
[Note: The NET translator’s looked at similar usages of “overseers” (church leaders) in Titus 1:6-7 and Acts 20:17, 28, and “the parallels between Titus 1:6-7 and 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and concluded that the term is equivalent to an “elder”.]
[Note: It is unclear why Paul used a different word. One may speculate that he may have been using a local word more familiar or concise than “elder”, among the ancient Philippians, or perhaps the word for “elder” had a secondary meaning to the Philippians which Paul desired to avoid.]
[The term that Paul used for “deacon” is unchanged from the usage elsewhere.]
Paul celebrated of the faithfulness of the Philippians, since early in his ministry for Christ, and for their support of him in prayer and giving.
Paul’s phrase “... the One Who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” must have brought a powerful message of encouragement, perspective, and promise to the Philippian believers. It is the Lord God through the Holy Spirit, in partnership with the believer and with other believers whom He brings alongside, who are doing “the good work” of discipleship of the believer.
The “perfecting” of the believer is a process and not an event—it continues throughout the lifetime of every believer, more or less successfully due to the cooperation or resistance of the individual, and will only be fully-realized at the entrance to Heaven. The “... day of Christ Jesus is His return to take His Home to Heaven—thus we are reminded of that promise—and that it is a guarantee and not a moving target about which we must worry every day.
Paul used an interesting phrase “... that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight ...”—indicating a strong linkage between the quality of our knowledge of God and our capacity to love and to have insight. He continued “... so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ.”—again reinforcing the freedom of the believer, together with access to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, to discern and choose according to the Lord God’s moral-will rather than the rebellious predisposition of the world.
Paul linked the quality of the God-infused insight of the Philip to their capacity to make well-informed choices, and he linked their practical-life choices to their moral standing “sincere and blameless” before Jesus when He eventually returned.
[Note: Paul was not teaching works-righteousness. He had previously written against legalism, and the limited capacity of a believer trapped in “this body of death”, he was, rather, teaching responsibility. Who wants to look into the eyes of a perfectly loving God and not hear the words “Well done, good and faithful servant”?
In verse 1:11 Paul reminded the Philippians, and us, that righteousness comes from Jesus Christ—again affirming that our salvation is not at-risk as He is the guarantor thereof.
Paul explained that the Lord God used his imprisonment to witness to the “imperial guard”, and others, for Christ and that the local believers were emboldened by his success in sharing Christ.
Paul remarked that some were actually “... preaching Christ” in order to irritate Paul’s accusers and captors in order to cause him trouble, while others were doing so from righteous motive, but that in either case God was sovereign and the cause of Christ was being advanced.
[Note: It is interesting to reflect upon which religious traditions and personalities—over history—may, despite distortions and wrong-hearts, still have been used by God to promote Christ.]
Paul concluded this section, in verse 1:19, by observing that his “deliverance” would come from their prayers and “... the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ”. One may reasonably speculate that he referred to freedom from momentary-imprisonment, or that he referred to freedom due to their prayers, and to his salvation through “... the Spirit of Jesus Christ”.
[Note: It is uncertain if by “Spirit of Jesus Christ” Paul intended to refer to the love and teaching of Jesus or if that phrase is a synonym for the Holy Spirit.]
The Lord God perfects us a little at a time, we are asked to partner with Him, not to go it alone.
How might you explain to a new or confused believer the linkage between the quality of our knowledge of the Lord God and our capacity to love and to have insight?
The purpose of the Lord God’s provision for us to have insight is to enhance our capacity to make informed choices. Our responsibility to make choices that impact our moral standing as “sincere and blameless” before Christ when He returns.
When have you observed that your increased-knowledge of the Word of God impacted your capacity to discern and to choose more righteously where you previously did not comprehend what was His moral will?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a specific area of your life where you lack clarity as to God’s moral will for you.
Today I will intentionally seek-out the Biblical texts, and as necessary commentaries and the counsel of “elders” (whom I have reason to trust), and to fill that gap in my knowledge-discernment foundation so as to be equipped to choose more wisely.
1:20 My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die.
1:21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.
1:22 Now if I am to go on living in the body, this will mean productive work for me, yet I don’t know which I prefer:
1:23 I feel torn between the two, because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far,
1:24 but it is more vital for your sake that I remain in the body.
1:25 And since I am sure of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for the sake of your progress and joy in the faith,
1:26 so that what you can be proud of may increase because of me in Christ Jesus, when I come back to you.
1:27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that—whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent—I should hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,
1:28 and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of their destruction, but of your salvation—a sign which is from God.
1:29 For it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him,
1:30 since you are encountering the same conflict that you saw me face and now hear that I am facing.
Lord, You give to Your children a longing for their true home with You in heaven, yet you ask us to remain here for a time in Your faithful service. May I never lose sight of Whose I am and for what place I am being “perfected” so that I may better resist selling-out to this temporary world.
Paul addressed the nature of his imprisonment, both from the perspective that he will not be coerced into “being ashamed” (renouncing his faith), or become embarrassed because he is in jail. He even declares that his life is willingly on the line.
Paul engaged in a rhetorical debate with himself as to his preferred state, dead in the body and present with Christ, or postponing his death so that Christ may continue to use him on earth. He concluded that although present with Christ is to be preferred—the obvious value to the Philippians from his remaining, as a servant of Christ to them, caused him to desire to stay.
Paul then challenged the Philippians to be likewise sacrificial in their submission to Christ, to be “... standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel.”
[Note: The one spirit may be viewed as a common attitude, inclined toward God, and as a reminder that they all share the same indwelling Holy Spirit. His phrase “... with one mind” suggests a common attitude and a common volitional and intentional desire to “contend ... for the faith of the gospel”. Also, “... contending side by side for the faith of the gospel.” is clearly an action-statement where they would “contend” with those who would preach “another gospel”, they would do so as a unified force for truth, and they would promote the saving and discipleship “faith” that is taught in the Gospels.
Paul noted that the perseverance of the believers in Philippi was testimony to the eternal destruction of the unbelievers who opposed them and to the certainty of the salvation of the believers.
He told them that they would be allowed to share a similar suffering for Christ as Paul, a privilege that was important in establishing the foundations of the Christian faith and the visible ‘church’ (fellowships of believers). Their privilege was that the Lord God would trust to them to remain faithful through the suffering and to thereby be living-testimonies to His power and truth.
The struggle that was Paul’s is ours as well. Once we are saved it is painfully obvious that we were not made for this fallen world and that we are strangers and temporary travelers here, on our way “home” to be with our Lord and with our eternal brothers and sisters in Christ.
How might you respond to the three-part challenge Paul placed before the Philippians; to challenge those who would alter the Gospel of Christ, to stand together through the struggle, and to teach both the salvation and discipleship message of the Gospel?
The Lord God uses the steadfastness of believers to draw a clear line between the saved and unsaved, convicting some of their need for Christ, further hardening those whose hearts are hardened against Him.
When have you observed a body of believers resisting false teaching, doing so in unity, and sharing the truth of Christ?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a circumstance where He wants you to respectfully “contend”, to seek-out others with whom you may stand in unity, and with whom you will share the genuine truth of “the faith of the gospels”.
Today I am choosing to stand with fellow believers where it is difficult to do so, be it a case of improper discrimination against a Bible-believing person, a wrong policy which promotes something that the Lord God clearly opposes (e.g. abortion, promiscuity, special rights for homosexuals, sin-promoting government-mandates), the invasion of the neighborhood by a quasi-Christian or non-Christian cult or other religion, and/or a practice or tradition within my fellowship which the Lord has shown me is non-Biblical and is harmful to “the faith of the gospels.
Christian Unity and Christ’s Humility
2:1 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy,
2:2 complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose.
2:3 Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.
2:4 Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.
2:5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,
2:6 who though he existed in the form of God
did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,
2:7 but emptied himself
by taking on the form of a slave,
by looking like other men,
and by sharing in human nature.
2:8 He humbled himself,
by becoming obedient to the point of death
– even death on a cross!
2:9 As a result God exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
2:10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow
– in heaven and on earth and under the earth –
2:11 and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father.
Lights in the World
2:12 So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence,
2:13 for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God.
2:14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing,
2:15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world
2:16 by holding on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.
2:17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice together with all of you.
2:18 And in the same way you also should be glad and rejoice together with me.
Lord, You are the Lord God Who left Your glory and throne behind and came to provide a way home for us and to teach us how to live in unity and humility, making us a positive witness for You. May I be humbled by Your loving-sacrifice and guided in all things by Your perfect wisdom.
Paul began Chapter 2 with a rhetorical question, teasing the Philippians about encouragement in Christ, comfort from love, fellowship in the Spirit, and affection in mercy.
He then challenged them to live united in Christ, acting from love, emphasizing commonality of the Holy Spirit and of a Godly attitude, and to be of common purpose as Jesus instructed in His “great commandment and great commission”.
Paul illustrated his point using the “attitude” of Christ Jesus, described in vss. 2.6-10, including a reference to the deity of Christ “... though he existed in the form of God”
He then reviewed the context of their right-living and the value of so-doing to a watching world.
Paul recognized the faithfulness of the Philippians, while he was with them, and even more-so when he was away.
He used the expression “... continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence” then qualified it with “for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of His good pleasure—is God.” His goal was to remind them that the value of their salvation had already begun and that it looked like something very powerful and practical. [Note: There is nothing in the text which justifies any claim to works-righteousness nor of anything other than a secure salvation.]
He continued in order to further guide them “Do everything without grumbling or arguing”, then the righteousness-emphasis “so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God, without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society”, and finally the outreach value “in which you shine as lights in the world.”
Paul again called us “children of God”, affirming the security of our salvation, and confirming the Holy Spirit as a critical unifying factor among all believers.
What are some practical ways to “continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence”, “... without grumbling or arguing”? How can that make of us witnesses of God’s love in us (and in our fellowships) to a watching world? Does it help to be reminded that some people observing us may also be deciding to choose Christ, or not?
“... the One bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of His good pleasure—is God”; therefore, it is neither us who initiate the positive movement toward righteous living nor is it of our own strength that we succeed. We agree to partner with the Lord God, not as disengaged tools but as active and energetic and willing co-laborers with Christ, through the Holy Spirit.
When have you observed an individual or a Christian fellowship—living intentionally (albeit imperfectly) united in Christ, acting from love, emphasizing commonality of the Holy Spirit and of a Godly attitude, and of a common purpose—as Jesus instructed in His “great commandment and great commission”. What were the fruits of that?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an area of your life where you are either not being intentional about moving toward righteous living (to pleasing the Lord God), or you have been trying to do so of your own strength.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to join me with prayers in agreement to address this area of need in my life, partnering with the Lord God, and allowing others in the fellowship to assist me.
Models for Ministry
2:19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged by hearing news about you.
2:20 For there is no one here like him who will readily demonstrate his deep concern for you.
2:21 Others are busy with their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ.
2:22 But you know his qualifications, that like a son working with his father, he served with me in advancing the gospel.
2:23 So I hope to send him as soon as I know more about my situation,
2:24 though I am confident in the Lord that I too will be coming to see you soon.
2:25 But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to me in my need.
2:26 Indeed, he greatly missed all of you and was distressed because you heard that he had been ill.
2:27 In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. But God showed mercy to him—and not to him only, but also to me—so that I would not have grief on top of grief.
2:28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety.
2:29 So welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,
2:30 since it was because of the work of Christ that he almost died. He risked his life so that he could make up for your inability to serve me.
Lord, You have done so much for us and ask that we be attentive to that which You have assigned to us to accomplish; lives that show evidence of The Greatest Commandment—love, and outreach that implements The Great Commission. May I so construct my life that both of Your priorities are realized in my life.
Paul addressed the need for, and value of, Biblically-faithful models for ministry.
He reminded the Philippians that they had cause for confidence and trust in Timothy based on his history of faithfulness to the cause of Christ above self-promotion, and because they knew him to be as Paul, very concerned with their spiritual well-being.
Paul sent Epaphroditus to them, to bring the Letter, and to encourage them, noting that he had been very ill—to the point of near death—and that he was troubled that knowledge of that had saddened the Philippian believers. His visit was to be an opportunity for shared rejoicing for “... God showed mercy to him”.
Epaphroditus fell ill serving the cause of Christ by assisting Paul, covering for the Philippians who were distant, so Paul encouraged them to “... welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him ...”
The Lord God provides a role model for trusted leaders. His role models are men who demonstrate evidence of righteousness and sacrifice rather than mere worldly wealth and influence.
What are some ways that Biblically-faithful fellowships may “... honor people like him ...” (e.g. Epaphroditus) without making of them celebrities or idols?
The Lord God showed mercy on Epaphroditus, for his sake—that he might be blessed in service to Christ, and so that Paul would not be burdened with his death—especially as it would have been largely due to his service to Paul.
What is a practical example of a Christian leader with a history of faithfulness to the cause of Christ above self-promotion. How were others blessed as God poured-out His blessings through that leader?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a leader who meets the standard of Timothy or Epaphroditus.
Today I will honor the leader whom the Holy Spirit has identified through encouragement, prayer, and a practical act which supports their ministry.
True and False Righteousness
3:1 Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! To write this again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.
3:2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh!
3:3 For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials
3:4 —though mine too are significant. If someone thinks he has good reasons to put confidence in human credentials, I have more:
3:5 I was circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. I lived according to the law as a Pharisee.
3:6 In my zeal for God I persecuted the church. According to the righteousness stipulated in the law I was blameless.
3:7 But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ.
3:8 More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things—indeed, I regard them as dung!—that I may gain Christ,
3:9 and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness—a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.
3:10 My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death,
3:11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Lord, You have given to us Your righteousness because nothing we might try to earn through law-keeping would be adequate to save us. May I rejoice in the Lord again and again.
Paul warned the Philippians again of the false teachers, whom he labeled as filthy dogs and evil workers, because there was nothing so bad as to lead people astray from Christ.
He noted that one of the key problems was the Judaisers, though he did not name them as such, but instead referred to the chronic bad doctrine of some who insisted upon the legalistic Old Testament requirement for circumcision as a condition of salvation when the “circumcision” God desired was a spiritual one—separating believers from the world.
Paul declared that those who asserted legitimacy for their false teaching through their worldly credentials fell well-short of his credentials—so even by that standard his teaching should be respected. He further declared that all of his credentials should mean nothing to believers because, in comparison to “knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”, he considered the rest as “dung”.
Paul concluded that his “aim” was to know Christ, to be empowered for eternity by His resurrection, to join His ministry by suffering to serve His cause, to die with certainty of purpose and promise then to be raised from the dead for eternity.
[Note: Paul used the phrase “... somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”, not intending to suggest that he did not know how or why he would be resurrected but to observe that there was a certain God-only-comprehends-perfectly “mystery” at the heart of resurrection.]
The problem of false teachers is and was not new, it began in the Garden, persisted throughout the OT, and continued into the New Testament. The Bible teaches that the enemy will come disguised as an “angel of light”—Paul warns us that some of those “angels” will falsely claim to be ministers of the Word.
How might you explain Paul definition of all things that interfere with knowledge of Christ, or which compete with our relationship with Him in any way, are “dung”?
Paul’s stated life-goal was to know Christ, to be empowered for eternity by His resurrection, to join His ministry by suffering to serve His cause, to die with certainty of purpose and promise, and then to be raised from the dead for eternity.
When in your life have you “died” to the world in order to acquire a closer walk with Christ Jesus?
Ask the Holy Spirit to identify a place in your life where an attitude, belief, habit, or tradition interferes with your knowledge of Christ, or competes with you relationship with Him in some way.
Today I will Today I am choosing to assign comparative value of “dung” to anything that distracts me from the Lord God. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me to alter my priorities to make Christ Jesus first in all things and all ways.
Keep Going Forward
3:12 Not that I have already attained this—that is, I have not already been perfected—but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.
3:13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead,
3:14 with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
3:15 Therefore let those of us who are “perfect” embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways.
3:16 Nevertheless, let us live up to the standard that we have already attained.
3:17 Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example.
3:18 For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.
3:19 Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things.
3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven—and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
3:21 who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself.
Lord, You already see us made-perfect by Your grace and power, so You call upon us to strive toward that goal rather than be diminished by the things of this imperfect world. May I keep my eyes on You!
Paul continued his description of Biblical priorities “... I am single-minded. Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead ... strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
[Note: This is not about works-righteousness but growth in spiritual maturity.]
Paul used the term “perfect” to describe those who are more mature and who continue to intentionally pursue greater spiritual maturity—as such is the “perfect” will of God for the lives of His children, not an expectation of completed perfection but adherence to God’s priority to grow and to go.
Paul implored the Philippians to “be imitators” of those who live “perfectly” before Christ Jesus, then warns again of the deceivers whose “... end is destruction”.
In contrast to the mature believer the false leader had their “belly” as a god, “exult in their shame”, and “think about earthly things”.
Paul concluded with the reminder that “... our citizenship is in heaven—and we await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of His glorious body by means of that power by which He is able to subject all things to Himself.”
The first step in the pursuit of spiritual maturity is “Forgetting the things that are behind ...” and then “... reaching out for the things that are ahead”.
What are some practical disciplines which can help one to more effectively pursue spiritual maturity, e.g. the identification of “elders” who may serve as worthy role models?
How does the meaning of the phrase “... our citizenship is in heaven” impact you?
When have you observed specific examples of leaders to be avoided, and leaders to be emulated, and what was it that caused each to be assigned to one category or the other?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a mentor, someone whose walk shows solid evidence of spiritual maturity more advanced than your own.
Today I am choosing to pray for the mentor the Lord God has revealed to me and I will find opportunities to serve alongside that mentor, as the Lord provides, in order that the Holy Spirit may teach me the same disciplines He has taught them.
Christian Practices
4:1 So then, my brothers and sisters, dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!
4:2 I appeal to Euodia and to Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 4:3 Yes, I say also to you, true companion, help them. They have struggled together in the gospel ministry along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.
4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!
4:5 Let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near!
4:6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.
4:7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.
4:9 And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.
Appreciation for Support
4:10 I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern for me. (Now I know you were concerned before but had no opportunity to do anything.)
4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance.
4:12 I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing.
4:13 I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.
4:14 Nevertheless, you did well to share with me in my trouble.
4:15 And as you Philippians know, at the beginning of my gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in this matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 4:16 For even in Thessalonica on more than one occasion you sent something for my need. 4:17 I do not say this because I am seeking a gift. Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account. 4:18 For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God.
4:19 And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
4:20 May glory be given to God our Father forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
4:21 Give greetings to all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers with me here send greetings. 4:22 All the saints greet you, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
4:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Lord, You meet our needs both physical and spiritual and, You strengthen us. May I give thanks, be bold, and be content.
Paul concluded his letter to the Philippians with additional specific guidance, which we may extrapolate to our fellowships, in order to enhance the quality of our practices.
He asked that the pursuit of righteousness continue, that the brothers and sisters help those who are struggling, and that they be aware that believers have their names “... in the Book of Life.”
[Note: Once ones name has been recorded in the Book of Life ones salvation is guaranteed.]
Paul recommended a Biblical attitude toward life “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say rejoice! Let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near!
Paul recommended this Biblical methodology for managing stress “Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.” He then explained the result “And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Paul recommended this Biblical methodology to remain pure in what he previously described as “... a crooked and perverse society”—”... whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.”
Paul recommended again that they emulate the more mature, including his example “I have learned to be content in any circumstance ... I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. I am able to do all things through the One who strengthens me.”
Paul did pause to remind them that obedience to God in offering, and providing, assistance to brothers and sisters in Christ who are in need was (and is) an admirable action.
Paul concluded with a prayer “And my God will supply your every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus ... The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”
Explanation of the different Biblical meanings when the term “spirit” is used, from the NET Greek/Hebrew Translator’s Notes: “1) the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son 1a) sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his personality and character (the \\Holy\\ Spirit) 1b) sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his work and power (the Spirit of \\Truth\\) 1c) never referred to as a depersonalised force 2) the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated 2a) the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides 2b) the soul 3) a spirit, i.e. a simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting 3a) a life giving spirit 3b) a spirit, i.e. a simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting.”
Paul’s counsel to not be anxious, to remain pure, to emulate the more mature in trust in God’s loving provision, and as a result to be “... content in any circumstance” is the key to growing in maturity.
What are some practical ways to implement Paul’s methodologies in your life and within your fellowship?
“I am able to do all things through the One who strengthens me.”
When have you experienced the blessing of increased-maturity, and therefore an exceptional (ultrafidian) trust in the Lord God, equipped you to handle a difficult circumstance with a greater sense of contentment and confidence?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your live where you are anxious, struggle with purity, sometimes emulate the less-mature than the more-mature, and as a result you are often discontent.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me as I partner with the Holy Spirit to apply Paul’s counsel and move toward a greater degree of contentment—trusting in the Lord God’s loving provision.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “Philippians”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in October of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Salutation
1:1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 1:2 to the saints, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, at Colossae. Grace and peace to you from God our Father!
Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Church
1:3 We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
1:4 since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints.
1:5 Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel 1:6 that has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.
1:7 You learned the gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave—a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf—1:8 who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
Paul’s Prayer for the Growth of the Church
1:9 For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
1:10 so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects—bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God,
1:11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully
1:12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.
1:13 He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves,
1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Lord, You qualified us to share in the great inheritance of heaven, You present us as a testimony to the world, and You give us hope and strength. May I be more-available, more-faithful, and more-persistent in arranging my life to serve You.
Paul reminded the Colossians of their common “heritage” in Christ. He then celebrated their faith and their ‘ultrafidian’ (beyond faith) love “... for all of the saints” (believers).
Paul elaborated on their “faith and love”, noting that they “... have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel that has come to you.”
He expanded the view “Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.”
Paul observed that they learned the gospel of from a faithful servant of Christ, Epaphras, someone sent from Paul’s network of disciple-evangelists, whom he notes “also told us of your love in the Spirit.”
[Note: The phrase “in the Spirit” is consistent with Paul’s prior usage, not referring to anything more than the promised work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, and in-common among believers.]
Paul reported the prayers of his group “... asking God to fill you [the Colossian believers] with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please Him in all respects—bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints inheritance in the light.”
The Colossians would have been among those who received a copy of what became known as the letter to the Ephesians, so they would be familiar with Paul’s discussion of wisdom and understanding flowing from the Holy Spirit.
Living worthily of the Lord God was a repeated message of Paul, one he repeated here, along with his expectation that they bear fruit as they cared for one another (“every good deed”).
Being strengthened, demonstrating the “Fruits of the Spirit” via patience and steadfastness, and joyfully giving thanks were also echoes of prior exhortations from Paul.
The final phrase of this passage “... qualified you to share in the saints inheritance in the light.” was a reminder that all are not saved, that there is an evaluation of those who are accepted into salvation, and that “the saints” inherit as a common family of peers. “... in the light.” was a valuable word picture of the difference between saved and unsaved as the corollary is, of course, that all others were in the darkness —the absence of God—then and for eternity.
“... the power of darkness” is the intractable impact of sin, since the Fall in the Garden, and exacerbated by our rebellious decisions every day—but we have been “transferred”, which requires us to be removed from the old standing and relocated to the new—we are not the same.
Jesus is the One who made this possible, He is the only One who has the capacity to bring us redemption, and He is the One who provides for freedom from both the eternal consequences and temporal guilt of sin.
How many of your fellow believers show fruits of the “faith and love” Jesus commanded us to live and to share “... have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel that has come to you.”?
What are some ways that you and members of your fellowship may increase the degree to which you and they are “... living worthily of God”, bearing fruit as you care for one another (“every good deed”)?
“He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins ... the power of darkness” is the intractable impact of sin, since the Fall in the Garden, and which has been exacerbated by our rebellious decisions every day—but we have been “transferred”, which requires us to be removed from the old standing and relocated to the new—we are not the same.
When have you, or someone else in your fellowship, experienced “... growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully giving thanks to the Father”—with emphasis on the linkage between “... growing in the knowledge of God” and the rest?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you if the following is true or not true in your walk “Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.”
Today I will celebrate specific examples with a fellow believer if true, and if not true I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me as I partner with the Holy Spirit to gain additional knowledge of the Lord God and allow Him to transform me from the inside out, and to show me where this is already happening in the lives of others.
1:15 The Supremacy of Christ
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,
1:16 for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him—all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers—all things were created through him and for him.
1:17 He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.
1:18 He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.
1:19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son
1:20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Paul’s Goal in Ministry
1:21 And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your minds as expressed through your evil deeds, 1:22 but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him—1:23 if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.
1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body—for the sake of his body, the church—what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.
1:25 I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship from God—given to me for you—in order to complete the word of God, 1:26 that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints.
1:27 God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
1:28 We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ.
1:29 Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.
Lord, You are the eternal One, expressed as Father, Spirit, and Son; without beginning or end. May the incredible gift of Your undeserved love motivate me to live more-fully for You.
Paul addressed a right understanding of Christ as a member of the Trinity:
He is the image of the invisible God
He is the firstborn of all Creation
All things in Heaven and on Earth were created by Him
All things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers—all things were created through Him and for Him
He Himself is before all things
He Himself holds all things together
He is the head of the body
He is the head of the “Church”
He is the beginning
He is the firstborn from among the dead
He is first in all things
God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in the Son (2:9 defines this as “deity”)
God was pleased that through Him (Christ) all things, on earth and in heaven, are reconciled
God was pleased that He (Christ) made peace with the blood of the Cross
Verses 1:21-23 appear to create some conflict with Paul's prior teaching on the assurance (permanence) of salvation, once received.
[Note: The appearance is the result of translation ambiguity as the correctly-translated Word of God is never self-contradictory—any “error” is always on the part of the reader and/or the translator, God never errs. What Paul has said here is that “... by His physical body” (Jesus-the-man) He became the substitutionary sacrifice for man, despite our “evil deeds” which “expressed” our “minds” as “one time strangers and enemies”. This provision creates the potential to “... present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before Him”, which is necessary given that no imperfect being/no being capable of rebellion will ever be permitted in heaven again. In order to properly understand the first half of 1:23 one must understand the context of the second half “... from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.” Paul is speaking of evangelism and not concluded-salvation and/or discipleship of believers. He makes no presumption that everyone in his audience is saved, nor should that presumption ever be made—even in a gathering designed for believers. Only the Lord God knows for sure; therefore, “... if indeed you remain in the faith, established (this term means saved) and firm [doubt precludes salvation], without shifting from the hope of the gospel—it is no longer “hope” once one has been saved, it is a promise.]
Paul then explained that his ministry was to “... complete the Word of God”, which may be taken to refer to his writings and to his effort to evangelize all of the known world—as he had already been “to Judah and Samaria”. His message “... the glorious riches of this mystery (Christ’s salvation of the “saints”) among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Then Paul explained how this evangelistic mission will be accomplished “We proclaim Him by instructing (evangelizing) and teaching (discipling) all people with all the wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ.
He concluded “Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.”
Christ Jesus contains the deity of God, created all things (“And God said ...”), all things are held together by Him, and all things exist for Him—does this not require that He be God?
What is, to you, the practical meaning that Christ Jesus is the head of the body and of the “Church”?
“... that through Him (Christ) all things, on earth and in heaven, are reconciled”. [Note that this “reconciliation has conditions” and that perhaps the translation should include the parenthetical note that this applies to believers only.]
When have you observed that a right understanding of Christ Jesus, especially His “headship” over the body and the “Church” led to a healthier fellowship, or the alternative result when a wrong understanding led to conflict?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where in your life you have had a wrong understanding of Christ Jesus as the head of you, (you are both a member of the body and of the “Church”) and this has led to rebellion in one form or another.
Today I agree to partner with the Holy Spirit, and with a fellow believer (as a prayer partner, accountability partner, coach, and as-is-appropriate as a mentor), to bring my heart, mind, and walk in-line with a right Biblical understanding of the authority of Christ in my entire life.
2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face.
2:2 My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
2:4 I say this so that no one will deceive you through arguments that sound reasonable.
2:5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Lord, You connect every Christian through Your indwelling Holy Spirit, and when we live and love in-agreement with Your Word we are safe from deception. May I pray for my fellow believers, and myself, that together we will be faithful to You.
Paul celebrated the way that the Colossians and Laodiceans had been “knit together in love”.
He offered a hope-prayer that they be encouraged and that “... they may have all of the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the mystery of God, namely, in Christ.”
The “encouragement” of the “assurance” that is the eternal love of the Lord God flows from a right understanding of Christ, the “mystery” that is the willingness of God to come in human flesh and sacrifice Himself in the flesh on a cross as a propitiation (law-satisfying substitution) for fallen man.
A right understanding of Christ brings assurance of salvation, His “riches” bring the “ultrafidian” (beyond faith) power to live in the flesh in this fallen world—through steadily-maturing obedient righteousness, and in boldness—sharing His gospel of salvation “in Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”.
We serve our fellow saints (believers) sacrificially (from love).
Paul warned them against those who “will deceive you through arguments that sound reasonable”.
[Note: The NET translator’s notes suggest “specious arguments” as an acceptable alternative. They also observe that this is not anti-intellectual but intends to warn against arguments that promote the uncritical acceptance of clearly anti-Biblical philosophies. This includes philosophies that presume to establish any parity between Christianity and another faith which claims to speak for God, that asserts that multiple faiths may lead to God’s truth (and salvation), or which subsume Christianity within and authoritatively below their primary faith (e.g. Islam).]
Paul concludes section 2:1-5 with another celebration of their “morale” (steadfastness) and “firmness of faith”.
He emphasized the deity of Christ, saying “... the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”
How often have you experienced, in a modern fellowship, “... the way that the Colossians and Laodiceans have been “knit together in love”?
What are some practical ways to increase the “encouragement” of the “assurance” that is the eternal love of God flows from a right understanding of Christ within your fellowship?
The “riches” of a right-understanding of Christ can bring an “ultrafidian” (beyond faith) power to live righteously in the flesh in this fallen world, to speak boldly by sharing His gospel of salvation “in Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”, and serving our fellow saints (believers) sacrificially (from love).
When have you observed a right-understanding in Christ equip a fellowship to resist the persuasive speech of one who attempted to promote an non-Biblical doctrine. What happened?
Ask the Holy Spirit to identify for you a way that a right-understanding of Christ may empower you to serve the Lord in a more “ultrafidian” (beyond faith) manner, perhaps in outreach to an un-saved or without-a-fellowship sub-population, perhaps in (or in support of) foreign missions, or reveal to you someone who needs encouragement in this area.
Today I will identify a mentor who will assist me with discipleship designed to build my knowledge and trust—or I will be that mentor to another.
Warnings Against the Adoption of False Philosophies
2:6 Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,
2:7 rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
2:8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
2:9 For in him all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form,
2:10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
2:11 In him you also were circumcised—not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ.
2:12 Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead.
2:13 And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions.
2:14 He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.
2:15 Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
2:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days—2:17 these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!
2:18 Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind. 2:19 He has not held fast to the head from whom the whole body, supported and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.
2:20 If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world? 2:21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” 2:22 These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are on human commands and teachings. 2:23 Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and false humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the body—a wisdom with no true value—they in reality result in fleshly indulgence.
Lord, You have set us free from old legalisms and new ones as well, rather we are to be centered on Jesus. May I avoid the social trap of going-along-to-get-along which is a form of slavery and focus on what You are teaching me and where You are sending me.
Paul encouraged the Colossians to continue in their study of Christ so as to be “… rooted and built up in Him and firm in your faith ... overflowing with thankfulness.”
He twice warned them again against false teachings that promote the “elemental spirits”, things that will be gone after the Final Judgment and are temporary (temporal) in nature, but to instead focus on the things of God which are eternal.
Paul clarified a point of confusion; the “Son”—an eternal member of the Trinity—Christ was and is forever God but the Lord God chose to add an additional physical dimension at the “incarnation” (via the immaculate conception of Jesus in Mary).
He reminded them that Christ is above “every ruler and authority” and that the “circumcision” of the Christian is a separation from slavery to our “fleshy body”, not an artificial “mutilation” of our temporary body as part of a ritual no longer required by God.
Paul reminded them of the intended word-picture that is Biblical baptism, “... buried with Him” then “... raised with Him in faith in the power of God Who raised Him from the dead.”
He reminded them of their need for salvation; “.. even though you were dead in your transgressions ... He nevertheless made you alive with Him, having forgiven all your transgressions.”
Paul reminded them of the absolute freedom they have from their pre-salvation selves: “He has destroyed what was against us ... by nailing it to the Cross.”
He expanded on the freedom of the believer “... do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days—these are only the shadow of things to come, but the reality is in Christ!”
In verses 2:18-20 Paul warned against those who brag about their supposed spiritual experiences and presume to condemn or lecture others—he said they are “puffed up with empty notions by his fleshy mind”.
The amazing choice of the Lord God that Christ, forever God-in-the-Trinity, chose to add an additional physical dimension at the “incarnation” (via the immaculate conception of Jesus in Mary). Remembering from the Gospels that even after His resurrection, and the partial restoration of His heavenly glory (the rest had to wait for His ascension as fallen man cannot survive in the presence of God’s full glory), He retained His scarred physical body.
[Note: There is no record of anyone physically-touching Jesus post-resurrection. Thomas was invited to do so but was not recorded as having actually accepted the challenge. That is discussed in the Gospels study.]
How have false teachings that promote the “elemental spirits”, things that will be gone after the Final Judgment and are temporary (temporal) in nature, find their way into your current fellowship (or one from your past or in another fellowship)?
The nature of our salvation is a separation from slavery to our “fleshy body”. A Biblical-baptism symbolizes that we are “... buried with Him” then “... raised with Him in faith in the power of God Who raised Him from the dead.”
When have you observed a practical example of a Biblical understanding of baptism through the way that it is presented in your fellowship?
Ask the Holy Spirit to identify a place where you are not yet living in the absolute freedom you have from your pre-salvation self: “He has destroyed what was against us ... by nailing it to the Cross.”
Today I agree to partner with the Holy Spirit, supported by prayers in agreement from a fellow believer, as I grow in spiritual maturity and reject any claim the enemy asserts to my past (pre-Christ) over my present (made new in Christ).
Exhortations to Seek the Things Above
3:1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
3:2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3:3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
3:4 When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.
3:5 So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry.
3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
3:7 You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them.
3:8 But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth.
3:9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices
3:10 and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it.
3:11 Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.
Exhortation to Unity and Love
3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
3:13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.
3:14 And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond.
3:15 Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful.
3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God.
3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Lord, You have set us free from the slavery to sin, which is the darkness of this world. May I have nothing in my life that I value more than You.
Paul reminded the Colossians to seek heavenly things because they were of-Christ and not of-the-world, “Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ...” because when Christ returns to bring us home the glory is His will be shared with us and we will stand with Him.
Based on our eternally-intimate standing with Christ Paul then concluded that our response must be to “... put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth”:
Paul warned that those who indulged in those things were among the “sons of disobedience” (unsaved) who would experience the post-tribulation, post-rapture, “wrath of God”.
He instructed them, and us, to put off such things as:
Paul reiterated the abolition of every worldly distinction among men and women, leaving only the eternal distinction between those who were saved and those who were unsaved.
He again used the term “elect” as one label for Christians as “... holy and dearly loved”, to “clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if someone happens to have a complaint against someone else.”
[Note: As described in a prior Study “elect” does not refer to a fatalistic pagan notion of predestination but is a label for one who meets God’s requirements for salvation and who has his/her name written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life”. Also, the matter of a “complaint against someone else” is addressed only to believers.]
He reminds us to add love to the list of virtues (things we are to avoid and their corollary to be sought) as love is “the perfect bond”—we were called through love into a perfect bond of peace.
He exhorts us to “Let the word of Christ dwell ... richly” [Note: This likely refers to the fruits of the indwelling Holy Spirit as well as a the loving nature of Christ.] “teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Our right-response to what Christ has done for us must be to “... put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth”.
In what ways are members of your fellowship intentionally “teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God.” without spawning human rituals and traditions which overwhelm the intent of this teaching?
Do you find Paul’s two checklists of sin challenging to elements of your walk?
When have you observed a fellowship (the larger local believer-community “Church” or a sub-group) where you experienced “clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if someone happens to have a complaint against someone else.”?
Ask the Holy Spirit reveal to you, from Paul’s two checklists, the items where you are still struggling.
Today I agree to partner with the Holy Spirit, and with the encouragement of someone praying in-agreement, I will intentionally move toward removing the sin from my life.
Exhortation to Households
3:18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.
3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord.
3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become disheartened. 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching—like those who are strictly people-pleasers—but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord.
3:23 Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people,
3:24 because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ.
3:25 For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there are no exceptions.
4:1 Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven.
Lord, You have instructed us over and over again to keep our eyes on You, the perfect One so that we might have right perspectives and priorities. May I do so and the result be a life that “... is pleasing to the Lord.”
Paul provided the Colossian believers a summary instruction of matters he had previously addressed via letters shared among the local fellowships. These instructions addressed marriage, children, parenting, slaves, and masters.
He reminded women that “as is fitting in the Lord” they were to submit to their husbands in-the-Lord.
[Note: Paul was addressing believers and never asked wives to submit to sinful dictates.]
He reminded husbands “love your wives and do not be embittered against them”. Husbands were to not turn away from their wives because they were imperfect, growing older, or less-appealing than some other women.
He reminded children that if they were to be pleasing to the Lord they were to obey their parents.
He reminded parents to not “provoke” [set them up to fail] their children [through abuse or neglect].
He reminded slaves to serve ethically “as to the Lord”.
[Note: Nowhere did Paul endorse slavery, but as did the Lord Jesus, he encouraged those who fould themselves as slaves to continue to conduct themselves as they would as free believers. They were to do all things as if they were doing them for the Lord.]
He reminded masters that they were fellow saints with their believing-slaves so to treat them as peers.
He reminded everyone that there were consequences for disobedience to God.
The various “Churches” (local fellowships of believers) in Paul’s time would have a high level of awareness of the content of Paul’s letters (including ones specifically addressed to other fellowships), either like the letter to the Ephesians (which was literally copied to the other groups), or via those that Paul sent out to communicate the Lord God’s teaching to them in their own local context.
What are some practical ways to effectively disciple parents, couples, prospective couples, and children in Paul’s teachings?
How well, or poorly, have you experienced, expressed, and/or observed Paul’s specific instructions for the expectations for different roles in-practice within your current or past fellowship?
When have you observed examples of employee-boss or student-teacher relationships where Paul’s instructions have been obeyed or disobeyed and the differing consequences?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where Paul’s instructions apply to your specific circumstances and at least one area where you may improve.
Today I agree to study the Word, perhaps with a peer-disciple or a mentor, in order to better understand Paul’s instructions [see earlier NT Study materials] and to partner with the Holy Spirit to bring my walk in line with His Word.
Exhortation to Pray for the Success of Paul’s Mission
4:2 Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.
4:3 At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
4:4 Pray that I may make it known as I should.
4:5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities.
4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.
Personal Greetings and Instructions
4:7 Tychicus, a dear brother, faithful minister, and fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 4:8 I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts. 4:9 I sent him with Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.
4:10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him). 4:11 And Jesus who is called Justus also sends greetings. In terms of Jewish converts, these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave of Christ, greets you. He is always struggling in prayer on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 4:13 For I can testify that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
4:14 Our dear friend Luke the physician and Demas greet you.
4:15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.
4:16 And after you have read this letter, have it read to the church of Laodicea. In turn, read the letter from Laodicea as well.
4:17 And tell Archippus, “See to it that you complete the ministry you received in the Lord.”
4:18 I, Paul, write this greeting by my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
Lord, You expect us to submit to the discipleship of Your Holy Spirit so that our ‘walk’ matches our ‘talk’ and in that way those to whom You send us to evangelize will trust us. May I partner with the Holy Spirit to drive the careless-worldliness and hypocrisy out of my life.
Paul reminded the Colossians to “Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.”
[Note: Paul had, in other letters to other churches, implored all to “pray without ceasing” because prayer keeps a believer alert to God; and with a mindset of thanksgiving rather than one of demandingness.]
He requested prayer, a model for all who are in leadership, so that “God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ ...”—there is no greater purpose.
Paul provided a model for responsible leaders, especially preachers and teachers, asking that they pray specifically “... that I may make it known as I should.”
[Note: He refers to clarity, courage, and faithfulness to God’s message.]
He exhorted them “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of opportunities. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.”
[Note: Paul was coaching them (and us) to embed in our conduct and our languages the deeds and words of faith—so that opportunities to “evangelize” flow from our conduct—or at least are not blocked by our conduct—and that when we have an opportunity to share it sounds natural rather than artificial.]
Paul concluded with greetings from those with him and reminded them to share the letter with the Laodiceans and to read the letter he sent to the Laodiceans.
Paul’s admonition “Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.”
What are some ways that believers may train themselves to “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of opportunities. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.” ?
How much conflict and error could be avoided if all leaders were as humble as Paul’s model for responsible leaders, especially preachers and teachers, asking that the local body of believers pray specifically “... that I may make it known as I should.” ?
When have you observed an example of a fellow believer who in intentional in their obedience to the call to “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of opportunities. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt”?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a Christian preacher or teacher for whom He wants you to pray.
Today am committing to pray that the leader He has chosen will make the message of Christ know as they should, without alteration, distortion, or distraction.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study—“Colossians”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in October of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Salutation
1:1 From Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you!
Thanksgiving for Response to the Gospel
1:2 We thank God always for all of you as we mention you constantly in our prayers,
1:3 because we recall in the presence of our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:4 We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,
1:5 in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction (surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).
1:6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, when you received the message with joy that comes from the Holy Spirit, despite great affliction.
1:7 As a result you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 1:8 For from you the message of the Lord has echoed forth not just in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place reports of your faith in God have spread, so that we do not need to say anything.
1:9 For people everywhere report how you welcomed us and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.
Lord, You have told the story of Creation, the history of humankind in relationship with You, have given us examples of right and wrong living through characters in the old and new testaments, humbled Yourself to come in mere human form to set us free, and have given us the apostles and early believers as role models. May I be found as faithful as the Thessalonians in sharing Your truth with others.
Paul offered a praise report for the Thessalonians, noting that when he brought the Lord God’s message of Christ to them they responded “... despite great affliction”.
He had delivered the gospel “... with deep conviction” he also performed miracles “power” and the presence of the Holy Spirit was made obvious.
[Note: Paul does not provide any detail but from his earlier writings this reference could suggest prophesy and tongues, it could suggest that the Holy Spirit had “prepared the harvest” as Jesus explained to His disciples, or both.]
Paul commended them “And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, when you received the message with joy that comes from the Holy Spirit …”. Once saved they accepted the mission and lived in the promise that God confirms via His indwelling Holy Spirit - as a result they “... became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.”
He celebrated their “ultrafidian” (beyond saving-faith) response, one that was so profound that everywhere Paul and his associates traveled word of their faith and faithfulness preceded.
The Holy Spirit of God partners with those whom He sends as His emissaries, we are never alone as believers engaged in sharing the gospel.
What are some practical ways that you, and members of your fellowship, may become better imitators of the apostle Paul and of the Lord?
The boldness of the Thessalonians, discerning the truth in Paul’s earnest presentation of the gospel and immediately acting to separate themselves from their old lives and to begin living in the new.
When have you observed an example of a population of people who responded to the gospel in a similarly radical way? What was the impact within their immediate community and perhaps a wider population - directly or via media coverage?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a specific area where you have not been a good imitator of Paul and Jesus (and the Thessalonians).
Today I agree to partner with the Holy Spirit, and an accountability/prayer partner, as I explore and implement disciplines to enhance my spiritual maturity in practical ways.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica
2:1 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, about our coming to you – it has not proven to be purposeless. 2:2 But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of much opposition.
2:3 For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit,
2:4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts.
2:5 For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is our witness –
2:6 nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others,
2:7 although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became little children among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children,
2:8 with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
2:9 For you recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
2:10 You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe.
2:11 As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children,
2:12 exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory.
2:13 And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God’s message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God’s message, which is at work among you who believe.
2:14 For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews,
2:15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people,
2:16 because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they constantly fill up their measure of sins, but wrath has come upon them completely.
Lord, You tested the heart – the motives of Paul – as he promoted Your Gospel. You found him without greed or lust. May I examine my own motives to that will also be found free of the same and therefore a worthy instrument to share Your saving-truth.
Paul greeted the Thessalonians again, reminding them that his only motive was to please God by rightly delivering His Word.
He could have misused his authority as an apostle but chose instead to emulate Jesus, coming to them as humble as a child and as loving as a mother to her children; images evoked by Jesus of Himself.
In Verse 2:9 Paul reminded them that to prevent any false-comparison of his motives with those of others who had come with “... a pretext for greed” he chose to be “... working night and day” then to preach “the gospel of God”.
He celebrated that they received the message not as one from men but from God, which it truly was.
Paul reflected upon the way that the Thessalonians were mistreated by their peers, similar to the mistreatment of believers in Judea by theirs, yet they stood with Christ.
The growth in maturity and numbers of the Thessalonians came despite fierce resistance from the unbelievers all around them.
In what other circumstances might a Christian leader choose to set-aside a “right” for the sake of his or her ministry?
Paul chose to allow the Lord God’s Word to speak authoritatively, he was it’s humble messenger who served them from genuine love, therefore he modeled Jesus before them.
When have you observed examples of both the right and the wrong way to lead? (The right way is Paul’s model. The wrong to make the momentary human leader the focus of authority and trust rather than the Lord God and His Word.)
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you, and to affirm His direction through at least one fellow believer whose spiritual maturity whom you have Biblical-cause to trust, where you need to sacrifice a “right” in order to become a more effective servant of Christ.
Today I will prayerfully pursue the necessary steps to actualize the sacrifice the Holy Spirit has asked of me for the sake of the Gospel.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Forced Absence from Thessalonica
2:17 But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time (in presence, not in affection) we became all the more fervent in our great desire to see you in person.
2:18 For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) but Satan thwarted us.
2:19 For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you?
2:20 For you are our glory and joy!
3:1 So when we could bear it no longer, we decided to stay on in Athens alone. 3:2 We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about your faith, 3:3 so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.
3:4 For in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well know. 3:5 So when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter somehow tempted you and our toil had proven useless.
3:6 But now Timothy has come to us from you and given us the good news of your faith and love and that you always think of us with affection and long to see us just as we also long to see you! 3:7 So in all our distress and affliction, we were reassured about you, brothers and sisters, through your faith.
3:8 For now we are alive again, if you stand firm in the Lord. 3:9 For how can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel because of you before our God?
3:10 We pray earnestly night and day to see you in person and make up what may be lacking in your faith.
3:11 Now may God our Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.
3:12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you,
3:13 so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Lord, You allow Satan to be active in the world over which he is the temporary prince, but You limit his impact on Your children and/or their mission for You. May I be fearless, knowing that You have the ultimate power, and that Your will shall be done no matter what Satan does.
Paul reminded them of his effort to return to Thessalonica, along with a report that Satan had actively blocked him several times.
[Note: The NET Translator’s notes include Greek and Hebrew which affirm that the original text intended to communicate a being called Satan as intentionally keeping Paul from the Thessalonians, rather than a generic human opposition rhetorically labeled as “Satan”. The Lord God provided Paul a way around the opposition but otherwise permitted it.]
He celebrated that they were his “... hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming”.
Paul sent Timothy in his stead to “... encourage you about your faith, so that no one would be shaken by their afflictions.” He celebrated the good news of their faithfulness despite “affliction”.
He concluded with a prayer “... may the Lord direct our way to you. And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”
The active interference of Satan versus Paul is evidence that the enemy is still active. Did you put on your “full armor of God” today?
What are some practical ways to strengthen your faith so that when trouble comes you may stand - like the Thessalonians?
Could Paul’s prayer be the Lord God’s prayer for every fellowship?
When have you observed an example of someone who faced challenges that might have shaken their faith but who stood strong because of their knowledge of an love for God, and their trust that He would sustain them?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a person, group, or fellowship for whom He wants you to pray Paul’s prayer.
Today I will pray Paul’s prayer for one revealed to me and I will ask others to join me
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
A Life Pleasing to God
4:1 Finally then, brothers and sisters, we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how you must live and please God (as you are in fact living) that you do so more and more.
4:2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
4:3 For this is God’s will: that you become holy, that you keep away from sexual immorality,
4:4 that each of you know how to possess his own body in holiness and honor,
4:5 not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God.
4:6 In this matter no one should violate the rights of his brother or take advantage of him, because the Lord is the avenger in all these cases, as we also told you earlier and warned you solemnly.
4:7 For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness.
4:8 Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
4:9 Now on the topic of brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.
4:10 And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,
4:11 to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you.
4:12 In this way you will live a decent life before outsiders and not be in need.
Lord, You see us – through Christ – as cleansed and made-holy in heaven, and You ask us to conduct ourselves in such a way as to grow toward that goal. May I be found pressing-away sin, seeking-after righteousness, and maturing in my daily walk.
Paul challenged the Thessalonians to increase the degree to which they “... live and please God.”
He listed the elements of right living before God, to
“...become holy”:
“... keep away from immorality”
“... each ... possess his own body in holiness and honor”
“... not ... lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God”
“... no one should violate the rights of his brother, or take advantage of him, because the Lord is the avenger in these cases”
He summarized his admonitions “For God did not call us in impurity but in holiness ... the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority but God, who gives His Holy Spirit to you.”
Paul celebrated their brotherly love “... toward all the brothers and sisters in all of Macedonia.” but still challenged them to do so even more.
He challenged them to “... aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands”
Paul’s goal for them was integrity and self-sufficiency, for the sake of a positive witness to a watching and not-yet-saved world, and to prevent dependency upon that world.
The challenge of Paul, one he applied to himself, that in holy and righteous living before God good is to be celebrated - but better is to be sought.
Jesus and Paul both condemned sloth. What are some ways that you could lead a more quiet/peaceful life and also be self-sufficient - not dependent on an unbelieving world or becoming an unnecessary (due to sloth) burden upon believers?
Do you need to address any of Paul’s list of elements of right living before God, to “...become holy” in your life?
When have you observed a practical example of someone who violated the rights of a brother (or sister, in the faith) or took advantage of them? How did God avenge that misdeed?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal an element of Paul’s list for holiness in your life upon which you need to work, or identify an area of brotherly love and/or peaceful and self-sufficient living where you are doing well.
Today I will address the area(s) needing work and seek ways to do even better in those where I am doing well. I will ask a fellow believer for accountability and prayer support.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Lord Returns for Believers
4:13 Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope.
4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians.
4:15 For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.
4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
4:17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.
4:18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Lord, You will return, You will restore those who have been “asleep” and unaware of the passage of time, and You will gather with them those who are alive in the flesh – because that is why You endured the Cross and empowered Easter. May my faith be renewed every time I remember what You have done and what You will do.
Paul explained that the dead in-Christ would be raised first to Christ, the living would then be raptured to join them, and that both will enjoy eternity with Him.
He cautioned them to understand that the dead in Christ are “asleep” in an eternal sense - so they must not “... grieve like the rest who have no hope.” because their hope is in a risen Lord Who is God.
He reminded them that “... we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians.” - reconciliation has always been the plan of the Lord God.
Paul declared “... we tell you this by the word of the Lord” that the living will wait for the dead to be resurrected before they are raptured. He gave no reason for the sequence.
He wrote “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God”, then will come the resurrection of the dead followed by the rapture of the living - “... together ... in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.”
He concluded “therefore encourage one another with these words.”
Physical death is similar to sleep for a saved person, they are unawares until resurrected by God, and they have not died spiritually.
[Note: Linear time, as we know it, did not exist prior to Creation and will cease to exist after the Great White Throne Judgment. Where one reads Biblical text that suggests immediate presence with God at death one must understand that such is written from a heavenly rather than earthly perspective.]
Imagining the return of Christ, how incredible will be your awe at His appearance, the resurrection of the dead, and the rapture of His children (including you)?
There is a peace-bringing perspective from knowing that the death of those whom we love (who are also fellow believers, the most-true family of a Christian) is only a temporary place of waiting for His return to bring them (and us) to a perfect eternity with Him.
When have you observed an example of a celebration of the life of a believer, who has died, where those gathered truly celebrated both their life and the promise of eternity together with them and Jesus?
Ask the Holy Spirit to bring you to a more-Biblical understanding of death and the resurrection
Today I will prayerfully contemplate what I have been taught and share it with a fellow believer and look at the Word together, in-person or electronically.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Day of the Lord
5:1 Now on the topic of times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you.
5:2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night.
5:3 Now when they are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape.
5:4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.
5:5 For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness.
5:6 So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.
5:7 For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
5:8 But since we are of the day, we must stay sober by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet our hope for salvation.
5:9 For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
5:10 He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep we will come to life together with him.
5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing.
Lord, we are to be at peace about our salvation, and assured of Your return – not worrying about the day but invested in right-living. May I build-up fellow believers, invest my time wisely in the things that You value, and tell Your story to the lost.
Paul addressed the problem of speculation about the “... times and seasons” as to when Jesus will return. He told them to forget about it as Jesus will return “... the same way as a thief in the night”, without warning, and with negative consequences for those who are not under protection.
[Note: For those whose sense of security comes from the world - the confrontation with Christ will be shocking, for those who know Him as their savior the moment will be exhilarating.]
Paul then revisited elements of an earlier teaching about the “armor of God” as tools to
“... stay alert and sober ... because we are of the day” ...
“... by putting on the breastplate of faith and love”
“... and as a helmet our hope for salvation.”
He reiterated his central message about the return of Christ “He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep [meaning saved people physically alive or dead, or living rightly or in rebellion] we will come together with Him” [via resurrection or rapture].
Paul concluded this section by again celebrating their faithfulness and encouraging them to continue.
We have the Lord God’s promise in-hand, so we are not to worry about the return of Christ - unbelievers should - as that is the end of the line for them.
What are some practical ways to “... stay alert and sober”?
There is an uncertain but impending deadline faced by the unsaved - and our commission is to reach them first!
What are some examples of people you know who are entirely invested in the world for their sense of purpose and value and who will face a devastating and eternal shock at the return of Christ? Do you remember when that was you?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one person who faces eternal separation from the Lord God for whom He wants you to pray.
Today I will pray for them to hear and to respond to His gospel of salvation. I do not presume to know how and through whom the Lord God will work - I will simply pray for their salvation.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Final Instructions
5:12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you,
5:13 and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 5:14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all.
5:15 See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.
5:16 Always rejoice,
5:17 constantly pray,
5:18 in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
5:19 Do not extinguish the Spirit.
5:20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt.
5:21 But examine all things; hold fast to what is good.
5:22 Stay away from every form of evil.
Conclusion
5:23 Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy and may your spirit and soul and body be kept entirely blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5:24 He who calls you is trustworthy, and he will in fact do this.
5:25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us too.
5:26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss.
5:27 I call on you solemnly in the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.
5:28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Lord, You bring peace and stand ready to commune with us through prayer; asking that we remember to pray, to avoid evil, and to honor one-another. May I be found frequently-faithful and less-frequently unfaithful as I grow in spiritual maturity.
Paul addressed the right-treatment of spiritual leaders (elders) among the fellowship of believers “... acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work.”
He reminded them once-again to “Be at peace among yourselves.”, followed by a series of summary instructions:
“... admonish the undisciplined”
“... comfort the discouraged”
“... help the weak”
“... be patient toward all”
“See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone”
“... Always pursue what is good for one another and for all.”
“Always rejoice”
“... constantly pray”
“... in everything give thanks.”
Paul paused to cite his authority for his instruction “For this is God’s will for you.” He wanted them to be clear in the understanding that these were not suggestions.
Then he exhorted them “Do not extinguish the Spirit.”, which would be the consequence of failing to pray, failing to be in the Word (as they had it at that time), failing to be in fellowship, failing to worship, and failing to cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He led them forward in maturity and service.
Paul warned them “Do not treat prophesies with contempt.” as they were evidence of the Lord God’s perfection from the past and His guiding lighthouses to the future.
He counseled them “But examine all things; hold fast to what is good. Stay away from every form of evil.”, meaning that they were responsible for their choices and the consequences; to partner with the Lord God or with the enemy, in every choice they made.
A fellowship of believers may “Be at peace among yourselves.” if they make the right choices.
What are some practical ways to “... acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work.” without displacing our sovereign Lord through a form of idolatry toward a mere human servant-leaders of His?
How have you experienced the practical working-out of Paul’s instruction “... examine all things; hold fast to what is good. Stay away from every form of evil.”?
When have you experienced obedience blessing your fellowship, and/or disobedience causing discord.? Has the former been celebrated and the latter addressed appropriately and promptly?
Ask the Holy Spirit to identify a spiritual leader (preferably within your local fellowship or community) whom He wishes you to “esteem”, and also one element of Paul’s summary instruction where you excel and one where you struggle with a compromise in your life where you are failing to “Stay away from every form of evil.”
Today I am committing to “esteem” the identified spiritual leader through prayer and a more-mature walk with Christ built upon His teaching of the Word. I will celebrate where I excel and partner with the Holy Spirit to address where I struggle. I will immediately and intentionally act to purge that “dark place” (as King David phrased it) from my life.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – Section 1 of the series, “Thessalonians” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in March of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Salutation
1:1 From Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Thanksgiving
1:3 We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith flourishes more and more and the love of each one of you all for one another is ever greater.
1:4 As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring.
Lord, Your impact upon faithful believers is increased-maturity, increased-love, and an increased-witness of Your saving grace and power. May I be found increasingly-surrendered to You as Lord of all of my life so that I may also be Your instrument of salt and light in this world.
Paul began with his customary salutation (in this case specifically referencing Silvanus and Timothy as joining him in the salutation), reminding his readers of their common fellowship due to their relationship with God through Jesus the Christ.
He included a message from “God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” which read “Grace and peace to you …”
[Note: Since the believers had already received the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit it would not have been appropriate for Paul to bring greetings from that member of the Trinity.]
Paul then praised them for their love for one another and observed that he, and those with him, “... ought to thank God always for you” because of the choice of the Thessalonians to obey the Lord God and in loving one another.
He continued “As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God” [local gatherings of believers where Paul preached and taught during his travels and through his letters].
Paul concluded “... for your perseverance and faith in all persecutions and afflictions you are enduring.”, to emphasize that they were not remarkable for faithfulness in-ease but under-duress.
The Lord God was sending His message “Grace and peace to you ...” to the Thessalonians because they were living obediently - with love for one another.
What are some practical ways that your fellowship may improve the degree to which they love one another, and as a result also earn a blessing from the Lord God that is “Grace and peace …”?
There is an apparent linkage between the common challenge of “persecutions and afflictions” challenging the members of the Thessalonian fellowship of believers (The Church) – because of their faith - and the quality of their love for one another.
What is an example of a small group of believers, or of a larger fellowship, whom you reference as a positive example, one worthy of praise and emulation (boasting), within the Christian family elsewhere? What is it specifically about them that earned them that standing?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a way that your fellowship may enhance the way that you love one another.
Today whether I have a role in leadership, or am a member, I will pray for and practice ways that we may love one another -- either by refraining from an action or tradition that interferes - or introducing some previously ignored piece of Biblical teaching.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Encouragement in Persecution
1:5 This is evidence of God’s righteous judgment, to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which in fact you are suffering.
1:6 For it is right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
1:7 and to you who are being afflicted to give rest together with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.
1:8 With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1:9 They will undergo the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength,
1:10 when he comes to be glorified among his saints and admired on that day among all who have believed – and you did in fact believe our testimony.
1:11 And in this regard we pray for you always, that our God will make you worthy of his calling and fulfill by his power your every desire for goodness and every work of faith,
1:12 that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lord, You will enforce perfect justice upon those who have chosen the world over the Truth, and you promise to encourage and equip us as we make ourselves available instruments to You work in this world. May I find joy in the promise of eternity without imperfection and every opportunity to be Your hands and feet while I remain here.
Paul’s context for the Thessalonians was to assure them that upon the return of Christ the enemies of Christ who had afflicted Christians would themselves be afflicted.
He provided motivation for evangelistic missions, as no one filled with love would want this to happen to anyone “With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will undergo the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might.”
When he wrote “... when He comes to be glorified among His saints and admired on that day” he wanted them to remember the Lord God’s title for believers and His desire that we give-glory to Christ.
When he wrote “...among all who have believed -- and you did in fact believe our testimony.”, he was teaching that only some are saved, that some hear and turn away, and that some hear and believe and surrender to the truth.
Paul then prayed that the Lord God would bless their desire for “... goodness and the work of faith”, so that they would know they were not expected to do His ministry without His blessing and provision.
He concluded with the purpose of an ultrafidian, beyond saving-faith, walk “... that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
At the return of Jesus He will bear His glory to those who have believed in Him and have admired and glorified Him as He brings us home to Heaven.
Why would there be affliction and destruction for those who have rejected Christ and who have afflicted His family (saints, believers)?
The Lord God’s promise is to bless to those who desire “... goodness and the work of faith”.
When have you observed an example of God’s blessing upon someone whose desire was “... goodness and the work of faith”?
Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to desire “... goodness and the work of faith”.
Today I will ask a fellow believer pray in agreement with me for a new-found desire from the Holy Spirit, opportunities to express that desire in practical ministry, and to share in thankful-celebration the Lord God’s answer.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Day of the Lord
2:1 Now regarding the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, we ask you, brothers and sisters,
2:2 not to be easily shaken from your composure or disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.
2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.
2:4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat in God’s temple, displaying himself as God.
2:5 Surely you recall that I used to tell you these things while I was still with you.
2:6 And so you know what holds him back, so that he will be revealed in his own time.
2:7 For the hidden power of lawlessness is already at work. However, the one who holds him back will do so until he is taken out of the way,
2:8 and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth and wipe out by the manifestation of his arrival.
2:9 The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan’s working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders,
2:10 and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved.
2:11 Consequently God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false.
2:12 And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil will be condemned.
Lord, You have given us a promise and a hope, peace and the indwelling presence of Your Holy Spirit. May I be among those who faithfully-cling to You when trouble comes.
Paul warned against accepting the false claim that the Lord had already returned and he provided a critical-checkpoint or test for those who wished to know when the return of the Lord would be imminent rather than merely speculative:
“For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat in God’s temple, displaying himself as God.”
Paul explained that “... the hidden power of lawlessness” was already active in the world, and that it was deceiving people but was restrained by the Lord God.
[Note: Paul elsewhere had warned that in the later days of the End Times the deception would be so powerful and sophisticated that “... the very elect” would be vulnerable - but for the protection of the Lord through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit].
He noted that the time would come when “... the one of lawlessness will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy”. The lawless one is a tool of Satan [not Satan himself] but on behalf of Satan will use “... all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders, with every kind of evil deception.”
Paul identifies the target of Satan’s agent (the “lawless one”) as “... those who are perishing because they found no place in their hearts for the truth”. God allows, indeed enhances, their vulnerability to the fullest deception so as to complete the path of condemnation they have chosen for themselves.
[Note: This fits the Biblical pattern where God “... hardened the heart” of Pharaoh, a heart that was already hardened against truth, believing himself to be a god.]
The vulnerability of the unsaved versus the safety of the saved, even as the saved may be deceived to a considerable degree, not so far that their salvation is lost.
What are some practical ways to recognize deceivers, despite their clever deceit, aided by Satan’s use of “... all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders, with every kind of evil deception” (in order to bring them false credibility) – so that members of your family and fellowship would not be vulnerable to that deceit?
The Lord God’s consistent practice, from the early days of Old Testament history through the present, has been “... giving them over to the lust of their flesh” - referring to those who find “... no place in their hearts for the truth”.
When have you witnessed an example of someone who came into a fellowship or other community where believers and non-believers gathered and used clever deception to draw believers away from righteous living, or non-believers away from the truth that could lead them to salvation. What happened?
Ask the Holy Spirit to direct and empower you to pray for discernment among believers within a specific fellowship so that they may defend themselves, and non-believers who visit, from deceivers - predecessors of “the lawless one” who represent “... the hidden power of lawlessness” or perhaps even “the lawless one” himself when he arrives.
Today, to the degree to which I am able I will encourage, equip, and serve in a ministry within my fellowship which teaches the Word with a special emphasis upon the essential truths of the Lord, spiritual discernment, and Biblical spiritual warfare.
[Note: “Biblical spiritual warfare” has been specified as there is much teaching about spiritual warfare that is not Biblical.]
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Call to Stand Firm
2:13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
2:14 He called you to this salvation through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2:15 Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.
2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope,
2:17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good thing you do or say.
Lord, You used Your Gospel to call humankind to salvation, and You sanctify those who respond. May I humbly surrender daily to Your sanctifying process.
Paul repeated his recognition of the Thessalonians as “... loved by the Lord”.
He reminded them that they were saved “... through our gospel” the means of salvation that God had chosen “... from the beginning”.
[Note: They were saved through the Gospel, which was communicated to them through fellow humans, per the choice of the Lord God. They had to choose to respond to the invitation of the Gospel, surrendering everything, submitting their all. Then they were saved]
Paul celebrated again that “... we ought to give thanks for you always” because of their faithfulness yet challenged them once again to “... stand firm and hold onto the traditions that we taught you”.
He concluded with a prayer:
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good thing you do or say.”
The relationship between the elements of the Lord God’s plan for salvation;
He would provide the elements of the gospel story (Jesus comes, Jesus lives without sin, Jesus calls together His disciples - and among them His Apostles, Jesus teaches, Jesus sacrifices Himself for us, Jesus rises from the dead, Jesus walks and teaches, Jesus ascends home to heaven, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit),
… and His choice to save those who hear the gospel and respond in faith to His invitation to surrender their meaningless life and doomed eternity to His Lordship and the gift of and eternity
... and being made perfect for heaven.
What are some ways that you, and your fellowship, may “... stand firm and hold onto the traditions that we taught you” - without the traditions of man displacing those of the Lord God?
Paul, and those closest to him, celebrated fellowships characterized by faithfulness.
When have you observed a practical example of an individual, sub-group, or fellowship who have earned celebration for their intentional faithfulness to the teachings of the Bible?
Ask the Holy Spirit to identify a place where the traditions of man have, in your life or that of your fellowship, displaced those of the Lord God – even in subtle ways.
Today I will prayerfully partner with the Holy Spirit to discard the human traditions and to restore the Biblical teachings of Paul and the other New Testament writers.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Request for Prayer
3:1 Finally, pray for us, brothers and sisters, that the Lord’s message may spread quickly and be honored as in fact it was among you,
3:2 and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people. For not all have faith.
3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
3:4 And we are confident about you in the Lord that you are both doing – and will do – what we are commanding.
3:5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts toward the love of God and the endurance of Christ.
Lord, You use us to spread Your Word, You ask us to pray for one-another, and You strengthen and protect us for the task You have set before us. May I be found faithful in directing my heart toward You my Lord and Savior.
Paul requested prayer that “The Lord’s message [essentially, the Gospel] may spread quickly and be honored as in fact was among you.”
He continued with what was both a personal request and one he shared in-common with the Thessalonian believers “... and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people. For not all have faith.”
[Note: It is clear in Paul’s next sentence that he intends that this prayer be for himself, as well as for those gathered with him, but also to include the Thessalonians by his use of “But ...” and of “... you”.]
Paul encouraged them “... But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”
He complimented and reassured them “And we are confident about you in the Lord that you are both doing -- and will do -- what we are commanding.”
Paul then closed with a prayer “Now may the Lord direct your hearts toward the love of God, and the endurance of Christ.”
Paul the Apostle and the believers in Thessalonica shared a common challenge, harassment from unbelievers.
What are some practical the ways that “The Lord’s message [essentially, the Gospel] may spread quickly [to believers and the not-yet-saved] and be honored ...” within your fellowship?
Paul’s promise was that “... the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”
When have you observed an example of “... perverse and evil people ... [who do] not all have faith” coming into a fellowship, or the life of an individual, and trying to undermine their faith.? What happened?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you ways that “The Lord’s message [essentially, the Gospel] may spread quickly [to believers and the not-yet-saved] and be honored ...” within your fellowship, and in your personal ministry activities, to a greater degree than is now occurring.
Today I will make myself available as a more-intentional instrument of the Holy Spirit in His evangelizing and discipleship work.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Response to the Undisciplined
3:6 But we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who lives an undisciplined life and not according to the tradition they received from us.
3:7 For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you,
3:8 and we did not eat anyone’s food without paying. Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked night and day in order not to burden any of you.
3:9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate.
3:10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this command: “If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat.”
3:11 For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life, not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others.
3:12 Now such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and so provide their own food to eat.
3:13 But you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing what is right.
3:14 But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note of him and do not associate closely with him, so that he may be ashamed.
3:15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Lord, You have warned that we are influenced and perceived by the company we regularly keep, and so we are wise to fellowship with believers. May I be salt and light among the unsaved but still be intentional about investing significant time with my believing peers.
Paul addressed the need for accountability to protect the well-being of individual believers and of the larger fellowship “... keep away from any brother who lives an undisciplined life”.
He reminded them that he chose bi-vocational ministry so that he might bring a hard-word without any hint of compromise or of hypocrisy, though he noted once-again that he had a right to accept and to expect support.
Because a correct teaching of a critical Biblical message might be undermined by the failure of a leader to choose sacrifice over truth Paul felt that his compromise was necessary as an example.
Paul’s message was “If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat.” This was directed at lazy and selfish believers who were taking advantage of the Thessalonians commitment to care for their own.
He continued “For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life, not doing their work but meddling in the work of others.”, implying that if one wants to voice an opinion one needed to earn the right through service to the fellowship.
Paul’s message to the slacker “... we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ ... work quietly and so provide ... own food to eat.”
To prevent this matter from escalating into one of division he counseled a low-level of social ostracizing, yet added the boundary “... do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”
Paul included an encouragement to the more mature believer to remain above the fray “... do not grow weary in doing what is right.”
Sloth and the abuse of the good will of others is not only a recent problem in society.
What are some practical ways to promote a positive work-ethic within the body of believers, to implement some accountability, and to do both without un-loving legalism and/or rigidity?
Do you see that in your own life, in the lives of the leaders of your fellowship, and/or in the lives of others in the larger “Church” (body of believers) a Pauline-willingness to sacrifice for the sake of the Lord God’s truth?
When have you observed examples of abuse of financial support in the fellowship where the intervention of accountability and discipleship produced a healthier attitude and conduct on the part of the offender?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal a place in your life where you have been spiritually slothful, leaving it to others to do the work of ministry or the work of spiritual warfare, content to write a check, delegate to “the professional ministers”, and/or to merely warm a seat on Sunday.
Today I have decided to finally listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and step-up into the ministry for which the Lord God has prepared me.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Conclusion
3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.
3:17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is how I write in every letter.
3:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Lord, You are with us all through Your Holy Spirit, and You give us a peace that passes all understanding – given this fallen world and the harassment of the enemy. May I rest from the challenges of this world in Your peace and may I share the reason for my peace with others.
Paul concluded 2 Thessalonians with a simple yet profound prayer “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.”
He wrote “The Lord be with you all.”
[Note: Paul was not intending to suggest that the Lord was not always with them, of course He was as they all had His indwelling Holy Spirit. In keeping with his earlier writing he intended that the teachings of the Lord be found in everything that they said and did so that it would be as though He was literally walking alongside them.]
Paul added an interesting parenthetical remark “I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is how I write every letter.”
[Note: The NET translator’s notes observe that Paul’s letters were dictated and physically transcribed by others but that he added some longhand text at the end of each as a sort of certificate of authenticity.]
His final words of this letter “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” underlined his awareness that they faced many challenges and that His grace empowered them to have peace in the storm and peace among themselves.
Paul made an extra effort to protect the integrity of the true message of God from the many false ones that the Enemy continuously-promoted. Even though Paul suffered from troubles with his hands, likely as the result of strenuous manual labor making tents and many violent assaults, he still penned some text to signify the authenticity of his letters.
What are some practical ways to walk more closely with the Lord? Perhaps a regular reminder of some sort that He sees everything that you do and hears everything that you say? The goal being to steadily grow to where He is in more and more of whatever you do no matter where you may be.
Does Paul’s prayer “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.” comfort you?
What is an example of someone who lives as if they truly believe that “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”?
Ask the Holy Spirit to make you more profoundly aware that He sees everything that you do and hears everything that you say.
Today I am committing to seek practical ways to walk more closely with the Lord in order to steadily grow to where He is in more and more of whatever I do wherever I may be.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – The series, “2 Thessalonians” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in March of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Salutation
1:1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 1:2 to Timothy, my genuine child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!
Timothy’s Task in Ephesus
1:3 As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to spread false teachings,
1:4 nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan that operates by faith.
1:5 But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
1:6 Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion.
1:7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently.
1:8 But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately,
1:9 realizing that law is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,
1:10 sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers – in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching.
1:11 This accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me.
1:12 I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry,
1:13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief,
1:14 and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus.
1:15 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them!
1:16 But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.
1:17 Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.
1:18 I put this charge before you, Timothy my child, in keeping with the prophecies once spoken about you, in order that with such encouragement you may fight the good fight.
1:19 To do this you must hold firmly to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith.
1:20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
Lord, You had mercy on me to demonstrate Your patience, and to use my story to illustrate the redemptive power of Your Gospel. May I cling to You to persevere and tell Your story wherever I go.
Paul was writing to Timothy in Ephesus, whom he labeled as “... my genuine child in the faith”. He asked him to combat false teachings and “... useless speculations”.
He specifically addressed those who “... occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan that operates by faith.”
[Note: The obsession with genealogy fed a desire of some to assert a right to speak with greater authority or to claim special standing before God (because they claimed to be related to a famous descendant), was distracting from the Gospel which taught salvation through grace by faith—without regard to any other variable.]
Paul amplified the importance of evaluating those who teach based on their character and knowledge “... the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.”
He defined the failures of the opposition “Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently.”
Paul noted that the legitimate purpose of the law is to convict the unsaved, “... any who live contrary to sound teaching” of their sin.
He reminded them that he had, prior to salvation “... acted ignorantly in unbelief, and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus.” God’s purpose was to take “... the worst of them” [Paul] and through grace “... demonstrated His utmost patience”.
Paul reminded Timothy that he was called to ministry as a fulfillment of God’s prophesy to work through men to “... fight the good fight” by holding “... firmly to faith and a good conscience”.
He further noted “some have rejected”, failed in, (“... holding “... firmly to faith and a good conscience”) “... and so have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan, to be taught not to blaspheme.”
[Note: Paul does not appear to be suggesting the loss of salvation but the loss of the Lord God’s blessings, including protection, and also fellowship. This may be seen in his use of “... taught not to blaspheme” since there would be no point in teaching a permanently-lost person.]
The contrast between Timothy bringing the true gospel with a right heart versus those who had “... strayed from the faith” and were promoting distracting and empty teachings.
What are some practical ways that one may earn a reputation like that of Timothy for “... a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.”?
Paul’s reminded that that the legitimate purpose of the law is to convict the unsaved, “... any who live contrary to sound teaching” of their sin.
What is an example of your prior-to-salvation life where you “... acted ignorantly in unbelief” but God’s grace washed that away once you received salvation from faith?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone who has drifted into the teaching of “... useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan that operates by faith ... not understand(ing) what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently.” so that they do not “... suffer shipwreck in regard to the faith ...” and irk God to the point of being “... handed over to Satan, to be taught not to blaspheme.”
Today I am choosing to pray for th eone whom the Holy Spirit has identified and I will, in confidence, ask at least one other believer to add their prayers in-agreement with mine.
Prayer for All People
2:1 First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people,
2:2 even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
2:3 Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior,
2:4 since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
2:5 For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human,
2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time.
2:7 For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle – I am telling the truth; I am not lying – and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
2:8 So I want the men to pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without anger or dispute.
Conduct of Women
2:9 Likewise the women are to dress in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control. Their adornment must not be with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing,
2:10 but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God.
2:11 A woman must learn quietly with all submissiveness.
2:12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. She must remain quiet.
2:13 For Adam was formed first and then Eve.
2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, because she was fully deceived, fell into transgression.
2:15 But she will be delivered through childbearing, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.
Lord, You ask us to pray for others – including leaders – because we want them to choose You and therefore be our brothers and sisters. May I be wise in my prayers to desire the blessing of salvation rather than the curse of trouble upon those who trouble me.
Paul addressed prayer “I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people ... since he wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”
He added “... even for kings and all who are in authority ... since he wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”
And so “... that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
Then “Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
Paul then reviewed the unique work of Christ “For there is one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time.”
He reviewed his personal role and credibility “For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle—I am telling the truth; I am not lying—and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.”
Paul summarized his teaching on prayer “So I want the men to pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dispute.”
[Note: There are two keys necessary to unlocking Paul’s context and intent. First, his use of “Likewise” could imply that he had addressed the matter of men’s conduct, and that text is missing—or that, he was referring to his instruction “... I want men to pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without anger or dispute”—his emphasis on “... without anger or dispute”, also a topic of self-control. Second, that he was using “So,” to link back to “... since he wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”]
He then addressed the sensitive matter of women within the Christian fellowship “Likewise the women are to dress in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control,”
Paul offered an example of simple versus excessive “adornment” and of drawing attention to oneself, specifically one’s appearance, versus intentional “... good deeds, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God”
[Note: Paul could have used the same phraseology for men, and given his use of “likewise”, essentially did so—“... without anger or dispute as is proper for men who profess reverence for God.”
It appears plausible to understand “... suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control” as layered on top of a common instruction to men and women. Or, “Likewise” could mean that he was now giving a discrete/separate instruction to the women about public interaction.
[Note: Paul (and Jesus) breached the existing cultural subjugation of women by allowing them to learn the Bible, to participate fully in commerce, and to serve in certain forms of leadership (to minor children and other women) within a fellowship.]
He encouraged the participation of women in learning about God, something not allowed by the traditional patriarchal and legalistic authorities (common to both Jewish and Gentile cultures) “A woman must learn ...” then he added “... quietly with all submissiveness.”
[Note: The implication here is of a local problem with women in the fellowship becoming argumentative. Paul elsewhere instructed the older men to teach the younger men and the older women the younger women, so clearly he did not intend to bar women from learning. One may observe elsewhere in the Word circumstances of cross-gender discipleship (e.g. Timothy was discipled by two female family members). Some have speculated that Paul’s phrase “... quietly with all submissiveness.” applied specifically to women when they were learning from men. (There is an inference in the text immediately-following that this is his possible intent.)]
Paul addressed the relationship of men and women in both Christian discipleship and in Christian life “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. She must remain quiet.”
[Note: This is culturally-controversial in modern times, and some have speculated that it may have been an accommodation to cultural norms of his time; however, Paul did not seem to avoid challenging local traditions where they violated the teachings of Christ and the text following does not appear to support that view. “She must remain quiet.” does appear to modify a woman’s relationship to a man in authority, especially in circumstances where a matter of Biblical teaching and Biblical authority were involved. Elsewhere, Paul narrowed a similar phrase to public gatherings and to married women interacting with their husband in public.]
He provided the reason for his submission of a woman to a man in matters of learning and teaching, “For Adam was formed first and then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, because she was fully deceived, fell into transgression.”
[Note: This is even more culturally-controversial in the modern cultural than is his teaching about silence and submission. Paul appears to not only denote a hierarchy based on the ancient order of Creation (of Adam and Eve) but also one based on the circumstances of the Fall; Eve chose to accept the accusation of Satan against God and to directly disobey the Lord God by eating of the forbidden fruit—thus already breaching the law and triggering the consequences—at least upon herself. Eve then multiplied her violation by recruiting Adam to repeat her rebellion. (There is no evidence in the Biblical text that Adam was directly confronted by the serpent. See the Genesis Study of Chapter 3.)]
Paul concluded “But she will be delivered through childbearing, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.”
[Note: As the NET translator’s notes observe this has historically been a difficult phrase to interpret. If one begins at the end “... if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.” one gets a good sense of the parallel with Paul’s instructions to the men. Looking at the first half “... delivered through childbearing” may have been Paul’s cryptic link back to vs 2:4 “... since he wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”, the same motive as for the men—. So one might read this text as follows “If the woman continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control, because the Lord God wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth, she (a euphemism for fallen humankind) will be delivered through childbearing – the birth of Jesus to Mary.”
Prayer for leaders and the conduct of Christian men and women is emphasized “... since he wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”
Do you (or your fellowship) take Paul’s teaching “So I want the men to pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dispute.” to also apply to women since he says “*Likewise* the women are to dress in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control” or as two separate instructions to two separate genders?
The unique work of Christ “For there is one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time.” informed Paul’s instructions to men and women to be intentionally holy in everything that they did “... since he (God) wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”
When have you observed an example of women freed from the yoke of learning-oppression, perhaps heard during a report from foreign missionaries? What blessings that flowed into and through those women once they were allowed to study the Word of God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you a place in your life where you are failing to pray for leaders with a right heart.
Today I will recognize “... since he wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” I must select at least one leader for whose salvation I will pray. I will recruit at least one other to join me in that prayer.
Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons
3:1 This saying is trustworthy: “If someone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.”
3:2 The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, 3:3 not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money.
3:4 He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity.
3:5 But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God?
3:6 He must not be a recent convert or he may become arrogant and fall into the punishment that the devil will exact.
3:7 And he must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil’s trap.
3:8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not two-faced, not given to excessive drinking, not greedy for gain,
3:9 holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
3:10 And these also must be tested first and then let them serve as deacons if they are found blameless.
3:11 Likewise also their wives must be dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in every respect.
3:12 Deacons must be husbands of one wife and good managers of their children and their own households.
3:13 For those who have served well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Conduct in God’s Church
3:14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you
3:15 in case I am delayed, to let you know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, because it is the church of the living God, the support and bulwark of the truth.
3:16 And we all agree, our religion contains amazing revelation: He was revealed in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
Lord, You desire “overseers” to serve as the spiritual leaders of fellowships of believers and “deacons” to support them, and members to respect them. May I serve when called and follow when led.
Paul presented the qualifications for “Overseers” and “Deacons” and reminded Christians of the reason for the Lord God’s expectations of them “in the household of God.”
He honored ones desire to serve an an “Overseer”, an apparent higher rank than that of Deacon as Paul chooses to add the phrase “... care for the church of God”, whereas he did not in his description of a Deacon.
An Overseer may be thought of as the one selected to be the leader of the Deacons or perhaps as the shepherd (pastor) of a fellowship, serving both as the Overseer of the Deacons and as Overseer of the discernment of God’s message and specific local ministry for God’s local “Church” (fellowship of believers).
[Note: The Bible elsewhere describes an “Elder” as a spiritual leader and a “Deacon” as one who cares for other matters in the fellowship. It is unclear if the intent is for the roles to be merged in a small fellowship and divided in a larger fellowship; this was the circumstance when the Lord God led Jethro to encourage Moses to delegate (Exodus 18), and later the Apostles to delegate in Acts 6:1-7. Acts 20:28 also shares some common text together with the term “Overseers”.]
Qualifications include:
“... above reproach” [Living intentionally to honor God, though not perfectly so.]
“... the husband of one wife” [See discussion below.]
“... temperate” [Abusing no substance, including food intake, elsewhere labeled “gluttony”.]
“... self-controlled” [Not impetuous nor prone to surges of erratic behavior or speech.]
“... respectable” [Respectful of social mores, responsible, mature, ethical, moral.]
“... hospitable” [Friendly, welcoming, sociable, generous.]
“... an able teacher” [Communicates well, explains well, models and encourages learning.]
“... not a drunkard” [No substance abuse.]
“... not violent” [Improperly so with his family or others. Does not mean a pacifist, nor non-discipline of a disobedient or disrespectful child.]
“... but gentle” [Considerate of others, listening, encouraging, many more “hugs” than “hits”.]
“... not contentious” [Not always needing own way, not seeking arguments, not a critical spirit.]
“... free from the love of money” [A good steward but not fearful of need, covetous of wealth.]
“He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity.” [Without hysteria, neglect, or tyranny, all of which would cause him to lose “his dignity”.]
“He must not be a recent convert ...” [Paul warns that rushing a new believer into the role of an Overseer may set him up to fail to the point of immature blasphemy leading to the chastisement of God. The NET translator’s notes direct one to 1 Tim. 1:20 for clarification.]
“He must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil’s trap.” [His testimony and witness should be consistent.]
Paul’s qualifications for Overseer included one controversial (in modern times), though unnecessarily considered controversial, element “... the husband of one wife”. The text only requires this if a candidate is married that he not be polygamous. (This was, apparently, a significant concern in certain regions at the time.)
[Note: Nothing in the text requires that one be married nor that one never have been divorced, any more than it requires that he never have been widowed or poor (the extreme of “free of the love of money”) or that he abstain totally from any form of alcohol (the extreme form of “not a drunkard”). Trustworthy scholarship requires that one apply a standard equally to all of the text and not selectively due to a preconceived extra-Biblical template, imposing the preferences and/or traditions of man upon the sovereign text of God.]
The qualifications for the office of Deacon are similar to that of an Overseer. The apparent intent of Paul is to contrast the role of Deacon to that of an Overseer as he chose “... care for the church of God” to set them apart.
Paul concluded with a reminder that the Lord God’s expectations of Christians “... in the household of God” was because “... it is the church of the living God, the support and bulwark of the truth.”
And finally, a summary of the creed of the Christian Church (every believer) “And we all agree, our religion contains amazing revelation. He was revealed in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up on glory.”
Do you see evidence of Paul’s checklist for Overseers and Deacons in those under whose authority you sit? If not you need to prayerfully consider relocating to where your leaders meet the Biblical mandate.
What are some practical ways to evaluate potential Overseers and Deacons, however your fellowship may denote the roles (e.g. bishop, shepherd, pastor, minister, elder, deacon)?
The Lord God’s expectations of Christians “... in the household of God” is because “... it is the church of the living God, the support and bulwark of the truth.”
When have you observed a process that has resulted in the selection of fully qualified Overseers and Deacons versus one where the Biblical requirements were either not enforced or were somehow distorted? Compare and contrast the consequences.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you if the Lord God is calling you to some form of leadership, and if so, to apply Paul’s checklist to your walk with Christ.
Today I will remember that grace applies, that repentance and forgiveness remove condemnation and exclusion, and that the Lord God never expects perfection of us in this world.
Timothy’s Ministry in the Later Times
4:1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings,
4:2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.
4:3 They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
4:4 For every creation of God is good and no food is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.
4:5 For it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.
4:6 By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
4:7 But reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible, and train yourself for godliness.
4:8 For “physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.”
4:9 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. 4:10 In fact this is why we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.
4:11 Command and teach these things.
4:12 Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity.
4:13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
4:14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, given to you and confirmed by prophetic words when the elders laid hands on you.
4:15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress.
4:16 Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
Lord, You have warned us that some will lose sight of grace and drift into legalism and the idolatry of preference and tradition. May I be alert to such distortions and bold in challenging them.
Paul delivered a warning from the Holy Spirit of troubles to come, “liars” will lead people to “desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings”
Additional elements of their false teachings:
“They will prohibit marriage ...”
“They will ... require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”
He then defined the freedom of the believer through grace and truth “... every creation of God is good and no food is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.”
Paul mentored Timothy to lead “By pointing out these things to the brothers and sisters ...”
“... reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible”
“... train yourself for godliness”
“Command and teach these things.”
“Let no one look down on you because you are young …”
[Young in age, yet an early-in-life “elder” due to Paul’s mentoring.]
“... set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity.”
“... give attention to the public reading of scripture”
“... give attention ... to exhortation”
“... give attention ... to teaching”
“Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have” [To exhort and teach and model right-living.]
Paul amplified the modeling-purpose of Timothy’s ministry “Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress.”
[Note: Leaders are required by the Lord God to demonstrate their own spiritual growth as a model for those whom have been entrusted to them. No leader “has arrived”, no leader should pretend to be without the need to learn and to grow, and no leader should be fearful about acknowledging areas needing improvement; thereafter, demonstrating progress toward maturity. A leader who fails to model their own “progress” is acting out of fear and/or arrogance and is not in obedience to God.]
He concluded “Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.”
[Note: Timothy would be speaking to the saved, so their salvation was not at risk, so what they would be saved from is chastisement from the Lord God if they drifted into the influence of the false teachers.]
The constant threat of the enemy using deceit to lead people astray, especially through those who misrepresent themselves as men and women of God.
What are some ways that you, and your fellowship, may better defend itself against the fads and falsehoods of careless and false teachers.
Timothy was expected to walk confidently, yet transparently, teaching fearlessly the truth of God while modeling God’s continuing work in his own life.
A practical example of a leader whom you have observed who lived as Paul instructed Timothy. Did you observe a positive impact upon those who followed this leader?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal a place in your walk as a Biblical-Christian where you have drifted into fads or falsehoods which are not consistent with the pure truth of the Lord God and to also reveal to you any place where you are modeling or teaching things (perhaps entertainment or lifestyle-choices) that are not clearly Biblical, or have been pretending to be perfect rather than transparently allowing others to see God’s maturing work in you—as an encouragement to them.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement, and to hold me accountable, as I move toward a more intentionally-Biblical and mature walk with Christ in these areas.
Instructions about Specific Groups
5:1 Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers,
5:2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters – with complete purity.
5:3 Honor widows who are truly in need.
5:4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them. For this is what pleases God.
5:5 But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own, has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day.
5:6 But the one who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.
5:7 Reinforce these commands, so that they will be beyond reproach.
5:8 But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
5:9 No widow should be put on the list unless she is at least sixty years old, was the wife of one husband,
5:10 and has a reputation for good works: as one who has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress – as one who has exhibited all kinds of good works.
5:11 But do not accept younger widows on the list, because their passions may lead them away from Christ and they will desire to marry,
5:12 and so incur judgment for breaking their former pledge.
5:13 And besides that, going around from house to house they learn to be lazy, and they are not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not.
5:14 So I want younger women to marry, raise children, and manage a household, in order to give the adversary no opportunity to vilify us.
5:15 For some have already wandered away to follow Satan.
5:16 If a believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need.
5:17 Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching.
5:18 For the scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker deserves his pay.”
5:19 Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses.
5:20 Those guilty of sin must be rebuked before all, as a warning to the rest.
5:21 Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind.
5:22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily and so identify with the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
5:23 (Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine for your digestion and your frequent illnesses.)
5:24 The sins of some people are obvious, going before them into judgment, but for others, they show up later.
5:25 Similarly good works are also obvious, and the ones that are not cannot remain hidden.
Lord, You set-apart leaders and hold them accountable to a higher-standard as they speak with authority into the family of Your children. May I be careful to honor You and Your Word.
Paul continued his mentoring of Timothy as a leader.
“Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father ...”
“Speak to younger men as brothers ...”
“Speak to ... older women as mothers ...”
“Speak to ... younger women as sisters—with complete purity.”
“Honor widows truly in need ...”
“... children and grandchildren ... repay parents” [Care for parents rather than dumping them on others.}
“... the one (widow) who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.” [Not deserving support.]
“... if someone (a believer) does not provide for his own (a believing and God-honoring parent or fellow believing widow in genuine need) ... he has denied the faith (is in rebellion, not lost to salvation) and is worse than an unbeliever.” [An unbeliever doesn’t know any better, a believer does.]
“No widow should be put on the list unless she is at least sixty years old [A presumption of her capacity to remarry or to earn a living somehow.], was the wife of one husband, [If she was polygamous she was both in rebellion against God and still has at least one husband to support her.] and has a reputation for good works;
“... who has raised children
and/or
“... who has ... practiced hospitality”
and/or
“... who has ... washed the feet of the saints”
and/or
“... who has ... helped those in distress”
such that they are
“... one who has exhibited all kinds of good works.”
“But do not accept younger widows on the list ...”
[Note: Paul wanted to avoid younger widows living off of the fellowship, based on a pledge to devote the rest of their lives to service, only to respond to the flesh and break that pledge by remarrying. He instead encouraged them to remarry]
Paul also reminds a believing woman of her responsibility to “... widows in her family” so that she does not misunderstand the responsibility to be only that of the men or others in the fellowship.
He continued “Elders who provide effective leadership ...” [The title “Elder” is imprecise as it may refer either to a Deacon or an Overseer, as described earlier in Paul’s first letter to Timothy; however, the term elsewhere tends to refer to one who is more of a spiritual leader than a helper and given the text immediately following appears to emphasize specifically preachers and teachers, but not exclusively so.]
“... must be counted worthy of double honor [respect and financial compensation], especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching.” Paul cited Deut. 25:4 as his authority.
“Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses. Those guilty of sin must be rebuked before all, as a warning to the rest.” [Paul elsewhere outlined the process for bringing and evaluating charges against a brother.]
“... carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind.”
“Do not lay hands on anyone hastily ...” [To avoid an apparent problem he had observed among other leaders-of-leaders choosing poor leaders.]
Paul noted that not all sins are immediately obvious but that good works are, therefore Timothy was to be patient in calling people into leadership—giving time for hidden sin to show itself while good works added to their good report.
Paul set boundaries for the care of widows—most critical that they be elderly, they be believers, they not have other means of support, and that they have a history of serving others.
How is an “elder”, spiritual leader, defined within your fellowship and how does an “elder” receive the “double honor” due him—as described by Paul?
Paul mentored Timothy using directives and explanations, and he insisted that Timothy avoid “prejudice or favoritism of any kind.”
When have you observed an example of either the care of widows, or one of cautious-patience in the calling of leaders, and how that worked-out—well or poorly—in your fellowship?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone in leadership at your fellowship with whom he wants you to compare and contrast the instructions of Paul with the policies and practices of your fellowship.
Today I will discuss this chapter with the one whom the Holy Spirit has identified. It may be an ‘official’ elder or one who has retired from active leadership or perhaps the spouse of an elder. If we discover differences we will prayerfully discern if there is a need for change. If I cannot meet with a person in leadership I will do the comparison myself and pray that the leadership will respond appropriately to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to bring policy and/or practice into line with the Word of God.
6:1 Those who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters as deserving of full respect. This will prevent the name of God and Christian teaching from being discredited.
6:2 But those who have believing masters must not show them less respect because they are brothers. Instead they are to serve all the more, because those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved.
Summary of Timothy’s Duties
Teach them and exhort them about these things.
6:3 If someone spreads false teachings and does not agree with sound words (that is, those of our Lord Jesus Christ) and with the teaching that accords with godliness,
6:4 he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions,
6:5 and constant bickering by people corrupted in their minds and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a way of making a profit.
6:6 Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit.
6:7 For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either.
6:8 But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that.
6:9 Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.
Lord, You provide all that we need to be contented wherever we are, and You show us how to be godly as well. May I not be envious of others and thereby discontent, nor drawn into their worldly ways and thereby less-godly.
Paul reminded those who are slaves (or bondservants) to an unbeliever must interact with their human “master” with full respect, so that their testimony as Christians will not be compromised.
[Note: This may be extrapolated to an employee-boss relationship where the boss is an unbeliever. Also, if one cannot serve ones boss with respect, either due to an unacceptably (spiritually) vexing work environment or demands by their boss that they violate the ethical standards of the Lord God then one must leave, rather than remain and be disrespectful.]
He instructed those with believing “masters” to serve even more respectfully because they are both children of a loving God.
[Note: Again, this may be extrapolated to the employee-boss relationship. Also, if a believing boss does not conduct himself/herself in a Biblically appropriate manner, and they are un-teachable—the believing employee may need to change jobs rather to remain where respect is difficult or impossible.]
Paul reviewed Timothy’s duty to “teach them and exhort them about these things”:
“... someone who spreads false teachings ... corrupted in their minds ... suppose that godliness is a way of making a profit ...
“Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into a trap and many senseless and harmful desires ... For the love of money is a root of many evils ...”
[NET Translator’s Notes: This latter phrase is sometimes rendered “For the love of money is the root of all evils.” but that hyperbole lends itself to all manner of misunderstanding, so the superior rendering has been provided.]
Paul’s emphasis in Timothy’s teaching presents a consistent message for slave, non-slave, rich and poor man alike—if you are a Christian then live like one. Treat others with honor and respect, no matter their station in life.
What are some practical ways to apply Paul’s teaching in the workplace, especially where the circumstances are sometimes challenging?
The linkage between “... someone who spreads false teachings” and Paul’s description that they are “... corrupted in their minds” implies spiritual deception – or worse.
What is an example of a challenging workplace and how you handled a difficult relationship with a saved or unsaved boss? If you have been blessed to serve a good saved boss how was that experience unique?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where you are doing well or poorly at His assignment to treat others with honor and respect no matter their station in life.
Today, where I discover that I fall short, I will ask the Holy Spirit to guide and chastise me until I get right with Him.
6:11 But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.
6:12 Compete well for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession for in the presence of many witnesses.
6:13 I charge you before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate,
6:14 to obey this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ
6:15 – whose appearing the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time.
6:16 He alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen.
6:17 Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.
6:18 Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.
6:19 In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.
Conclusion
6:20 O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and absurdities of so-called “knowledge.”
6:21 By professing it, some have strayed from the faith. Grace be with you all.
Lord, You informed Pontius Pilate, Your disciples and apostles, and all of the world Who You Are and why You came. May I be as faithful as Timothy to share Your Gospel and to live according to the faith You have affirmed in me through Your indwelling Holy Spirit.
Key elements of Paul’s reference to “Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate” may be found in Matthew 27 and John 18. Pilate was a functionally-secular leader trapped between Jesus and the religious leaders. The spiritual warfare was so profound that Pilate’s wife “... suffered greatly as the result of a dream” and sent him a note warning him that Jesus was innocent.
The specific text to which Paul referred was “18:36 Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 18:37 Then Pilate said, “So you are a king!” Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world – to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 18:38 Pilate asked, “What is truth?”“
Paul returned to the positive for Timothy:
“Instead, pursue righteousness ...”
“... godliness”
“... faithfulness”
“... love”
“... endurance”
“... and gentleness”
“Compete well for the faith ...”
“Command those who are rich in this world’s goods to not be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain but on God ... to be rich in good deeds ... In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation and so lay hold of what is truly life.”
Paul concluded his first letter to Timothy with a plea for continued faithfulness and a prayer “Grace be with you all.”
If you are a Christian then live like one. “Instead, pursue righteousness ... godliness ... faithfulness ... love ... endurance ... and gentleness”. “Compete well for the faith ...”
Would it help you, or members of your fellowship, to remain strong in Christ if they were reminded now and then of the testimony of Jesus before Pilate (in John 18), since Paul thought it would help Timothy?
Timothy was young and surrounded by immature, selfish, and vain people – typical of fallen humankind – yet was challenged to live and to teach righteousness.
When have you observed a 'Timothy'? A young person sold-out to the Lord yet challenged all-about to sell-out?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where you are doing well or poorly at His assignment to “.. pursue righteousness ... godliness ... faithfulness ... love ... endurance ... and gentleness …” and to ... “Compete well for the faith ...”.
Today, where I discover that I fall short, I will ask the Holy Spirit to guide and chastise me until I get right with Him.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – The series, “1 Timothy” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in March of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
The prior Section
Salutation
1:1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to further the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
1:2 to Timothy, my dear child. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!
Thanksgiving and Charge to Timothy
1:3 I am thankful to God, whom I have served with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I remember you in my prayers as I do constantly night and day.
1:4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
1:5 I recall your sincere faith that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you.
1:6 Because of this I remind you to rekindle God’s gift that you possess through the laying on of my hands.
1:7 For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.
1:8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, a prisoner for his sake, but by God’s power accept your share of suffering for the gospel.
1:9 He is the one who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
1:10 but now made visible through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus. He has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel!
1:11 For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher.
1:12 Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day.
1:13 Hold to the standard of sound words that you heard from me and do so with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
1:14 Protect that good thing entrusted to you, through the Holy Spirit who lives within us.
1:15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my imprisonment.
1:17 But when he arrived in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me.
1:18 May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day! And you know very well all the ways he served me in Ephesus.
Lord, You will protect Your Word, You ask that we be faithful and persistent in bringing it to Your children and beyond. May I be found fearlessly-faithful for Your truth.
Paul greeted Timothy, restating his certainty of a calling from God, and restating his affection for him “... my dear child”. He also notes that he prays for him “day and night”.
He then revisited Timothy’s spiritual heritage “I recall your sincere faith that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure (convinced) is in you.”
He challenged Timothy “... to rekindle God’s gift that you possess through the laying on of hands.”
[Note: The gift is Timothy’s call to leadership, confirmed when the apostle Paul laid hands upon him.]
Paul continued “For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
“... by God’s power accept your share of suffering for the gospel. He is the one who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made visible through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus.”
He concluded the chapter, listing those who abandoned him in his imprisonment, and celebrating Onesiphorus who was “unashamed” and “often refreshed” him.
Paul’s challenge “For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
What are some practical ways to “... by God’s power accept your share of suffering for the gospel.”?
What does it mean to you that God “... called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made visible through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus.”?
When have you become aware of someone with a spiritual heritage, a transfer of authority and opportunity, like Timothy? Did it lead to a ministry with the clear power and purpose of Timothy’s or did it instead become more of a continuation of man’s tradition than a powerful relationship (with the Lord God) – both personal and poured-out through a calling for life?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any evidence of “... a Spirit of fear”.
Today I am committing to partner with the Holy Spirit as He affirms His gift “... of power and love and self-control.”
Serving Faithfully Despite Hardship
2:1 So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2:2 And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.
2:3 Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2:4 No one in military service gets entangled in matters of everyday life; otherwise he will not please the one who recruited him.
2:5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he will not be crowned as the winner unless he competes according to the rules.
2:6 The farmer who works hard ought to have the first share of the crops.
2:7 Think about what I am saying and the Lord will give you understanding of all this.
2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David; such is my gospel,
2:9 for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonment as a criminal, but God’s message is not imprisoned!
2:10 So I endure all things for the sake of those chosen by God, that they too may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and its eternal glory.
2:11 This saying is trustworthy: If we died with him, we will also live with him.
2:12 If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us.
2:13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself.
Lord, You don't promise a trouble-free brief stay on earth but rather an eternity in the perfection of Heaven, for those who exchange this world to become Your children. May I take the suffering with the blessings and remain faithful.
Paul greeted Timothy with a wonderful phrase “... be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”.
He instructed Timothy to raise up leaders among those whom God brings to his fellowship “... entrust what you heard me say. in the presence of many others as witnesses. to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.”
[Note: It is a serious failing of leadership that every leader has not consistently mentored one or more in leadership and in teaching so as to multiply themselves. It is also a violation of this clear command of the Lord God. One may speculate that it is out of fear of being displaced, an unwillingness to invest in others, and/or ignorance of the Word of God. The result has been the delegation of leadership training to para-church institutions.]
Paul exhorted Timothy “Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”, making certain that he would not be surprised by or unprepared for troubles sure to come from a world that hates the gospel.
He warned Timothy to avoid entanglement in the things of the world, to train and to compete energetically and ethically, and to not refuse reasonable compensation from those whom he serves.
Paul summarized what it is that Timothy must emphasize “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David [through Mary] ...” then continued:
“If we died with Him we will also live with Him.” [Salvation requires a spiritual rebirthing.]
“If we endure, we will also reign with Him.” [He rewards obedience.]
“If we deny Him, he will also deny us.” [This applies only to the unsaved.]
“If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself.”
[He has guaranteed our salvation is recorded in “the Lamb’s Book of Life, the indwelling Holy Spirit is God’s “first downpayment” on our guarantee of eternal life with God, and a contract with God can never be canceled by mere man.]
Paul commissioned Timothy to “Remind people of these things ...”, both the gospel and the instructions for right-living before God.
Paul reminded Timothy of the centrality of Gospel and of right-living before God.
What are some practical ways “... to avoid entanglement in the things of the world”? (e.g.busy oneself with the things of the Kingdom, have Christian-accountability for lifestyle and priorities.)
Paul’s instruction to Timothy to raise up leaders among those whom God brings to his fellowship “... entrust what you heard me say. in the presence of many others as witnesses. to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.” Is this being obeyed in your fellowship and your life?
When have you observed an example of a Christian leader mentoring someone who then stepped-into leadership?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal you a Christian leader who has been imprisoned for his faith somewhere in the world.
Today I will pray for the prisoner-of-faith and will recruit others to pray in-agreement. As may be appropriate we will also encourage those imprisoning him or her to release them, we will contact our government officials to request that they lobby on behalf of the prisoner, and we will tell others via electronic, written, and in-person communications.
Dealing with False Teachers
2:14 Remind people of these things and solemnly charge them before the Lord not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen.
2:15 Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.
2:16 But avoid profane chatter, because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness,
2:17 and their message will spread its infection like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are in this group.
2:18 They have strayed from the truth by saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are undermining some people’s faith.
2:19 However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.”
2:20 Now in a wealthy home there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also ones made of wood and of clay, and some are for honorable use, but others for ignoble use.
2:21 So if someone cleanses himself of such behavior, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
2:22 But keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
2:23 But reject foolish and ignorant controversies, because you know they breed infighting.
2:24 And the Lord’s slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient,
2:25 correcting opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth
2:26 and they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive to do his will.
Lord, You have counseled us to “... reject foolish and ignorant controversies, because you know they breed infighting.” Among my fellow children of the Lord God may I be known as one who listens more than I speak, who encourages more than I correct, and one who brings words of peace rather than of conflict.
Paul warned Timothy to resist the false teachers who led people into “... wrangling over words”, what He characterizes as “... of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen.”
He challenged Timothy “Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.”
Paul gave Timothy one key to recognize the false teachers, and to avoid drifting into their error “But avoid profane chatter ... their message will spread its infection like gangrene ... saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are undermining come people’s faith.”
He reassured Timothy that the Lord God’s plan was sure “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must torn away from evil.”
Paul used the illustration of vessels in the home, some used for clean things, others for refuse. He notes that a person in-rebellion was like the unclean vessel, but once cleansed by the Lord God he became useful to God’s good purposes.
He provided Timothy a checklist of do’s and don’ts to do “... in company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart:
“... keep away from youthful passions”
“... pursue righteousness”
“... pursue ... faithfulness”
“... pursue ... love”
“... pursue ... peace”
“... reject foolish and ignorant controversies, because you know they breed infighting. And the Lord’s slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all”
“... the Lord’s slave must ... be an apt teacher”
“... the Lord’s slave must ... be patient”
“... the Lord’s slave must ... correct(ing) opponents with gentleness “
Paul noted that when “... the Lord’s slave” does these things “Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth and then they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive to do his will.”
[Note: Paul was speaking of Timothy’s interactions with the unsaved, the Lord God’s decision to “... grant them repentance” was based on His knowledge of their hearts and therefore their capacity to respond to truth, and he was reminding Timothy that every unsaved person is “captive” to “the devil”.]
“Wrangling over words ...” was discouraged as bringing conflict without wisdom.
What are some practical ways to implement Paul’s checklist of do’s and don’ts to do “... in company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart” in your fellowship and your life.
Even though we allow tests to become temptations and therefore render ourselves as vessels for the Lord God to use to bless others He will lead us back to righteousness, make us clean, and then pour His blessings in and through us.
When have you experienced or observed an example of a “... Lord’s slave” interacting with an unbeliever and that person moving toward Christ such that God “... grant(ed) them repentance” and they were saved?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any place in your walk where you fall short in Paul’s checklist of do’s and don’ts, including the avoidance of “profane chatter”.
Today I will celebrate with the Holy Spirit the places where I am doing well and will ask Him to empower me to mature in the areas where I am weak. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement with me and to hold me accountable where I need to grow.
Ministry in the Last Days
3:1 But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
3:2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3:3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good,
3:4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God.
3:5 They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.
3:6 For some of these insinuate themselves into households and captivate weak women who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions.
3:7 Such women are always seeking instruction, yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
3:8 And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people – who have warped minds and are disqualified in the faith – also oppose the truth.
3:9 But they will not go much further, for their foolishness will be obvious to everyone, just like it was with Jannes and Jambres.
Lord, You have warned of “... difficult days to come”, and You provided Your indwelling Holy Spirit to carry us through. In times of trouble may I remember to lean on You.
Paul warned “... in the last days difficult times will come.” he then listed the symptoms:
“... people will be lovers of themselves”
“... lovers of money”
“... boastful”
“... arrogant”
“... blasphemers”
“... disobedient to parents”
“... ungrateful”
“... unholy”
“... unloving”
“... irreconcilable”
“... slanderers”
“... without self-control”
“... savage”
“... opposed to what is good”
“... treacherous”
“... reckless”
“... conceited”
“... loving pleasure rather than loving God”
“They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power.”
“... some of these insinuate themselves into households and captivate weak women who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions. Such women are always seeking instruction, yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of truth.
“... these people—who have warped minds and are disqualified in the faith—also oppose the truth. But they will not go much further, for their foolishness will be obvious to everyone “
Paul’s list of “symptoms” which are evidence of the last days of “difficult times to come”. Do you see them converging together across humanity as never before?
Isn’t it amazing the “... weak women who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions. Such women are always seeking instruction, yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of truth.” How might your fellowship do a better job of discipling them and of connecting them to peer-accountability so that they become spiritually strong?
Are you struggling with any of the “symptoms” listed by Paul?
When have you observed people with influence in a fellowship who maintained “... the outward appearance of religion but ... repudiated its power?”
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you anything from Paul’s list of “symptoms” which are evidence of the last days of “difficult times to come”.
Today I will partner with the Holy Spirit as He helps me to endure the challenges and to continue to share His Word.
Continue in What You Have Learned
3:10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance,
3:11 as well as the persecutions and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra. I endured these persecutions and the Lord delivered me from them all.
3:12 Now in fact all who want to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
3:13 But evil people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.
3:14 You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you
3:15 and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
3:16 Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
3:17 that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.
Lord, You have given us role-models, Your Word, and equipped us “... for every good work.” May I emulate Your role-model, apply, obey, and teach Your Word, and never cease from doing Your good work.
Paul was coach and mentor to Timothy, intentionally modeling for him right-living and sound leadership.
He warned him of conflict to come, as he had seen while traveling with Paul, but from inside and outside of the fellowship of believers (both from deceived-believers and fakes).
Paul reminded Timothy of the value of his discipleship and knowledge of the Word:
“You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus,”
“Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and in training in righteousness. for the person dedicated to Go may be capable and equipped for every good work.”
The Lord God disciples and equips those whom He calls to leadership.
If you were in Timothy’s position would you be somewhat intimidated by the circumstances and tasks before you?
The Lord God provided “... scripture [that] is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and in training in righteousness. for the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.”
When have you observed an example of a practical application, in your life, of “Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and in training in righteousness. for the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.”?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a situation where you are, or are about to be, persecuted for your faith.
Today I will read this text again, ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement for protection and wisdom, and stand my ground for the Lord God.
Charge to Timothy Repeated
4:1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
4:2 Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction.
4:3 For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.
4:4 And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths.
4:5 You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.
4:6 For I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for me to depart is at hand.
4:7 I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith!
4:8 Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day – and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing.
Lord, we are to be fearless in sharing Your Gospel, resilient in resisting distractions and apostasy. May I be Your faithful instrument, however and wherever You choose to use me.
Paul concluded his second and final letter to Timothy with a review of what he has taught him about leadership as a shepherd, beginning with Whose authority he is asserting “I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom”
[Note: “... his appearing and his kingdom” may be taken it two ways, that Paul’s “solemn charge” is authoritative because it is approved by the Lord God, Christ Jesus, Who will judge all and who appeared to us in the flesh on the earth and Who established His kingdom, or, Him Who will return/appear again and Who will literally establish—or complete—His kingdom following His return and judgment.]
He then provided a checklist of instructions:
“Preach the message ...”
“... be ready whether it is convenient or not”
“... reprove ... with complete patience and instruction.” [challenge to know what they believe and why]
“... rebuke ... with complete patience and instruction.” [challenge false teaching]
“... exhort ... with complete patience and instruction.” [challenge to act from faith, or submit in faith]
Paul then warned Timothy again of the changes that were coming “For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching.”, they will seek teachers who will promote myths and other non-Biblical teaching.
He instructed Timothy further “... be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.”
Paul concluded by stating that he is about to die for his faithfulness and others need to be willing to do the same, knowing that God will keep His promises “... to all who have set their affection on his appearing.”
The exhortation of Paul to Timothy “... be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.” How are you doing with those things?
What are some practical ways to implement the checklist of instructions for Timothy? Where do you see these practiced in your life of ministry (the ministry of all believers), and where do you need to consider discipleship, opportunity, and sacrifice to cause them to be realized in your ministry?
Paul reminded Timothy (and us) that the Lord God is always watching, always cares, and always chooses the eternal consequences of our choices. He has chosen to work out His plan though us, but reserves the right to work out His plan despite us, should we choose to be less-than-cooperative.
When have you observed an example of “... people [who] will not tolerate sound teaching.”, they will seek teachers who will present myths and other non-Biblical teachings. What was the result?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you moments/places in your life where the Lord God is providing opportunities to reprove, rebuke, and exhort.
Today I will commit to His indwelling Holy Spirit to be a willing vessel through whom He may pour His wisdom and power so that those opportunities are fully actualized to His glory and purpose.
Travel Plans and Concluding Greetings
4:9 Make every effort to come to me soon.
4:10 For Demas deserted me, since he loved the present age, and he went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia.
4:11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is a great help to me in ministry.
4:12 Now I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
4:13 When you come, bring with you the cloak I left in Troas with Carpas and the scrolls, especially the parchments.
4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him in keeping with his deeds.
4:15 You be on guard against him too, because he vehemently opposed our words.
4:16 At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me – may they not be held accountable for it.
4:17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed for all the Gentiles to hear. And so I was delivered from the lion’s mouth!
4:18 The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever! Amen.
4:19 Greetings to Prisca and Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus.
4:20 Erastus stayed in Corinth. Trophimus I left ill in Miletus.
4:21 Make every effort to come before winter. Greetings to you from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.
4:22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
Lord, You know that Your people will often be weak, despite Your strength available to them through Your Holy Spirit. May I remember to endure and persevere in Your work not through my strength but rather Yours.
Paul experienced the same abandonment when arrested and prosecuted as did Jesus.
He was delivered from his persecutors after the opportunity to share the Lord God’s Gospel with the “gentiles”; once again what the enemy meant for evil the Lord turned to good.
Paul used the OT imagery of Daniel in the lion’s den to describe his experience.
He counseled Timothy to beware of “Alexander the coppersmith” who was apparently influential and invested in opposing the Gospel.
Paul appealed to Timothy to join him and to gather some resources he had left-behind along the way.
No matter how we may be attacked, for our faith, we may be certain that the Lord God will provide opportunities along the way to be a witness, and perhaps to even tell His story in words.
How might we better prepare ourselves, and those around us, to stand firm in the face of attack?
Paul was confident that the Lord would deliver him and bring him home to Heaven.
When have you experienced or observed attacks for faith? How did those involve respond?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you at least one person who will stand faithfully by you should you be attacked for your faith.
Today I will encourage and pray for the one whom the Holy Spirit has revealed, and as is appropriate, will engage them in Bible study and fellowship so that we may both grow.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study, “2 Timothy” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in March of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
The prior Section
Salutation
1:1 From Paul, a slave of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness,
1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began.
1:3 But now in his own time he has made his message evident through the preaching I was entrusted with according to the command of God our Savior.
1:4 To Titus, my genuine son in a common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior!
Lord, Your promise of eternal life makes every genuine believer 'family', here on earth and forever. May I love and pray for family in Christ.
Paul’s salutation to Titus included three notable elements; that his own calling was “... to further the faith of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of truth that is in keeping with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began”, that God “has made his message evident through the preaching”, and that Titus is “... my genuine son in a common faith”.
In using a phrase that may be loosely-translated “chosen ones” he was not promoting fatalistic predestination, sometimes referred to as double-predestination. Paul used this phrase interchangeably with “elect” and in most cases the the text clarifies that one is “chosen” or becomes “the elect” after responding to the invitation of the Holy Spirit. The New Testament texts are replete with stories of the intersection of the Gospel and individuals, some of who choose rightly, some of whom do not. The offer would not be made disingenuously, so the freedom to choose or to refuse must be equally legitimate.
The text then moves on to explain that based upon ones “hope of eternal life” [hope is in the Lord God who cannot fail] one is then furthered in their faith “... and the knowledge of truth” so as to enhance their godliness through preaching.
Paul concludes his salutation with the profound assertion that Titus is his “genuine son” because of their “common faith”.
Paul’s affection for and trust in Titus is strong, based on a common salvation, and on a clear mission for which he has prepared him.
When you read the text do you understand Paul to say that preaching is for evangelism, discipleship, or both?
The promise of eternal life was made “... before the ages began”.
When have you experienced preaching that moved you toward a greater commitment to godliness as it built-up your knowledge of the Lord God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a preacher or teacher for whom He wants you to pray.
Today I will pray for a preacher or teacher who is faithful to the Word and an encourager of other leaders.
Titus’ Task on Crete
1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
1:6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with faithful children who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion.
1:7 For the overseer must be blameless as one entrusted with God’s work, not arrogant, not prone to anger, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain.
1:8 Instead he must be hospitable, devoted to what is good, sensible, upright, devout, and self-controlled.
1:9 He must hold firmly to the faithful message as it has been taught, so that he will be able to give exhortation in such healthy teaching and correct those who speak against it.
1:10 For there are many rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections,
1:11 who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught.
1:12 A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
1:13 Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith
1:14 and not pay attention to Jewish myths and commands of people who reject the truth.
1:15 All is pure to those who are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
1:16 They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
Lord, You instructed Paul to appointed “elders” as spiritual leaders, and Paul delegated that to Timothy and Titus and others – with careful instructions as to how to discern those who were appropriate for that role. When entrusted with leadership may I apply Paul's evaluation wisely, adding nothing, and deleting nothing.
Paul reminded Titus “The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town”, he then reviews the qualifications for an elder:
“An elder must be blameless” [Not readily charged with a genuine offense, more blameless than most.]
“... the husband of one wife” [As noted in Timothy this is about non-polygamous, nothing else is required by the text.]
“... with faithful children who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion” [dissipation - unruly, drunken]
“... not arrogant”
“... not prone to anger”
“... not a drunkard”
“... not violent”
“... not greedy for gain”
“... must be hospitable”
“... devoted to what is good”
“... devoted to what is ... sensible”
“... devoted to what is ... upright”
“... devoted to what is ... devout”
“... devoted to what is ... self-controlled”
“... hold firmly to what has been taught”
“... give exhortation”
“... correct those who speak against it”
Paul reminded Titus that “there are many rebellious people ... rebuke them sharply”
He added “All is pure to those who are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure”
Paul concluded “They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.”
The negative attributes Paul shared with Titus about an elder “... not arrogant”, “... not prone to anger”, “... not a drunkard”, “... not violent”, “... not greedy for gain” are also to be avoided by you, and the “elders” in your fellowship, how are you doing with these?
What are some ways that you might do a better job living up to Paul’s list of attributes:
“An elder must be blameless” [Not readily charged with a genuine offense, more blameless than most.]
“... the husband of one wife” [As noted in Timothy this is about non-polygamous, nothing else is required by the text.]
“... with faithful children who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion” [dissipation - unruly, drunken]
“... must be hospitable”
“... devoted to what is good”
“... devoted to what is ... sensible”
“... devoted to what is ... upright”
“... devoted to what is ... devout”
“... devoted to what is ... self-controlled”
“... hold firmly to what has been taught”
“... give exhortation”
“... correct those who speak against it”
Paul’s warned that “there are many rebellious people ... rebuke them sharply”, “All is pure to those who are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure”, “They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.” Have you observed any of these things in any leaders within a fellowship? What was the result?
When have you observed a practical example of an “elder” who either did or did not live up to Paul’s list of attributes? Compare and contrast their witness and their fruit.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one of Paul's lists of attributes for an “elder” which He wants you to meet more-completely in your life. (The attributes are about righteousness and most of them are goals for every believer.)
Today I will intentionally pursue maturity in the identified attribute, even if I am not an elder, until I am more rightly living according to it.
Conduct Consistent with Sound Teaching
2:1 But as for you, communicate the behavior that goes with sound teaching.
2:2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.
2:3 Older women likewise are to exhibit behavior fitting for those who are holy, not slandering, not slaves to excessive drinking, but teaching what is good.
2:4 In this way they will train the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children,
2:5 to be self-controlled, pure, fulfilling their duties at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the message of God may not be discredited.
2:6 Encourage younger men likewise to be self-controlled,
2:7 showing yourself to be an example of good works in every way. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
2:8 and a sound message that cannot be criticized, so that any opponent will be at a loss, because he has nothing evil to say about us.
Lord, You prompt us to “... communicate the behavior that goes with sound teaching”. May I be found increasingly-faithful in walking the same walk that I talk.
The apostle Paul challenged Titus to a high-standard, not only teaching the principles of right-living with his words, but illustrating them with his life.
He instructed that older men model right-living for younger men and older women for younger women.
Paul also reminded Titus that a leader who matched his walk with his talk would leave no legitimate opportunity for critics of the faith.
We are to “... communicate” in our lifestyle “... the behavior that goes with sound teaching”.
How might we make older men and women in our fellowships more aware that they are role-models for the younger members?
Nothing in this description for the men “... temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in endurance” includes abusive, bossy, dictatorial, disrespectful, or lazy.
When have you observed an older man or woman truly striving for the standard Paul described for Titus? How did that impact others?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your walk that He wants to better match the talk.
Today I will ask a fellow-believer to be my accountability-partner and prayer-partner as I partner with the Holy Spirit to become more mature in my walk before Him.
2:9 Slaves are to be subject to their own masters in everything, to do what is wanted and not talk back,
2:10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, in order to bring credit to the teaching of God our Savior in everything.
2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.
2:12 It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
2:13 as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
2:14 He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good.
2:15 So communicate these things with the sort of exhortation or rebuke that carries full authority. Don’t let anyone look down on you.
Lord, You are most concerned about our integrity - which earns us the opportunity to be witnesses to Your power in our lives – regardless of circumstances. May I not excuse wrong choices based on difficult circumstances.
Paul did not endorse slavery, he merely addressed the right-living of one who found themselves in bondage (before or after salvation).
He argued that one must live rightly before the Lord God and therefore also before man.
Paul reminded Titus that we are to see ourselves as the saved children of the Lord God and to therefore press-away the things of the world that would dirty us.
He concluded with encouragement for Titus to speak boldly, to not fear criticism, and to promote truth and challenge falsehoods.
The Lord God does not want careless and worldly children who are useless, or worse, as instruments to bring His Gospel to the unsaved.
How might your fellowship, especially the leaders, improve their exhortation and pursuit of purity?
No matter how difficult ones circumstances one always has choices.
When have you observed a leader who exhorted and rebuked, walked toward purity, and refused to allow difficulties to be an excuse for careless living?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a challenging situation which may become an opportunity to be a witness for Christ.
Today I will choose to rise above my circumstances, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and be a living-witness to the Lord God in my life.
Conduct Toward Those Outside the Church
3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work.
3:2 They must not slander anyone, but be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people.
3:3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another.
3:4 But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,
3:5 he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit,
3:6 whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior.
3:7 And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.”
Lord, You “poured out on us … the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit”. May I be faithful to manage my conduct outside the fellowship of believers (The Church) so they might see You in me.
Paul instructed Titus to teach believers to be appropriately law-abiding so that they might earn an opportunity to share the Gospel.
He added that believers were to be grace-filled, loving, and respectful toward all people.
Paul listed for Titus what was to be avoided:
· Foolishness
· Disobedience
· Being misled
· Being enslaved to various passions and desires
· Spending our lives in evil and envy
· Hating one another
He reminded Titus that the Lord God “... poured out on us … the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit”
Paul concluded that because humankind had no works of any value to earn any of the gift of salvation through Christ – believers were “... justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.”
The Lord God did it all, we are asked to surrender the worthless in order to receive His gift of what is beyond any earthly measure of value.
How might your fellowship more-effectively teach believers to be grace-filled, loving, and respectful toward all people?
Believers are to be appropriately law-abiding so that they might earn an opportunity to share the Gospel.
When have you experienced leadership that was truly grace-filled, loving, and respectful toward all people – regardless of physical appearance, gender, race, or social status?
Ask the Holy Spirit to which of Paul's list He wants you to work on; foolishness, disobedience, being misled, being enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hating one another.
Today I will partner with/surrender to the Holy Spirit as He leads me to a more-mature walk. I will ask a fellow-believer to pray in-agreement and to be my accountability-partner.
Summary of the Letter
3:8 This saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, so that those who have placed their faith in God may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good and beneficial for all people.
3:9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law, because they are useless and empty.
3:10 Reject a divisive person after one or two warnings.
3:11 You know that such a person is twisted by sin and is conscious of it himself.
Lord, You have taught us to focus on our own walk before You and the simple story of Your Gospel, all of the rest are details. May I stay focused and not allow myself to be distracted by the less-important and miss-out on the most-important.
Paul wanted Titus to be without doubt as to the integrity of his instructions.
His goal was to multiply the ministries of evangelism and discipleship; the latter so that believers were equipped to also multiply the ministry.
Paul warned against quibbling about minor matters, debates about genealogy, and the Law (which, for believers, was covered by Grace)
He taught that boundaries were necessary in fellowships so that “divisive” persons not disrupt and divide.
Paul explained to Titus that the divisive person knew that they were “twisted by sin”.
Believers must be well-discipled if they are to walk rightly and be valuable instruments in the ministry of the Lord God.
What can your fellowship do to improve focus on the most-important matters in discipleship?
It is a strategy of the enemy to get believers arguing about the unimportant.
When have you observed a fellowship dealing with a divisive person?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you “good works” for which He has prepared you through discipleship.
Today I will be intentional about the good works He has prepared and sent me to do.
Final Instructions and Greeting
3:12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
3:13 Make every effort to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; make sure they have what they need.
3:14 Here is another way that our people can learn to engage in good works to meet pressing needs and so not be unfruitful.
3:15 Everyone with me greets you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.
Lord, You instruct us to take care of one-another rather than waste time unproductively. May I be alert to the needs of fellow believers and seize opportunities to assist them.
Paul asked Titus to be a resource to other leaders and to come and visit him.
He instructed Titus to model and teach caring and support for fellow-believers
Paul explained that believers who invested time in the care and support of other believers would be less-likely to engage in “unfruitful” activities. [Earlier in the text of his letter to Titus Paul listed many of the “unfruitful” activities to be avoided.]
He concluded his letter with one request; to “Greet those who love us in the faith”, a special word for believers, and a blessing “Grace be with you all.”
We are to care for fellow believers so that they are not without the resources necessary to continue their ministry.
What can your fellowship do to make certain that no believer goes without necessities and those doing extra for the Lord also well-supported?
When believers are not about the Lord’s work they tend to drift into the things of the world.
When have you been part of meeting the needs of a fellow-believer or supported a special ministry?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where you have drifted into unfruitful activities.
Today I will purge the unfruitful activities from my life and rather than leave a vacuum I will fill that space with ministry His name.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –“Titus” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in April of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
The prior Section
Salutation
1:1 From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer,
1:2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house.
1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Lord, You see us in many roles; as Your children, saints, The Church, and here in Philemon as soldiers. May I see myself as You do, defined by You, called as I am made a useful instrument in Your great work.
Paul wrote to Philemon while still imprisoned, and accompanied by Timothy.
He called Philemon a “colaborer”, which was high-praise given in parallel with Timothy.
Paul referenced Apphia “our sister” [apparently set apart for her role in some part of the ministry, rather than merely a sister in the faith, since he immediately thereafter referenced the corporate gathering of believers “the church”] and Archippus, “our fellow soldier” [presumably because he may have suffered imprisonment and other punishment for the faith].
He observed that the gathering of believers was in the home of Philemon, as was common for Christians at that time, and remains so in much of the modern world.
Paul concluded with a blessing common to most of his letters.
Paul, like Jesus, was counter-cultural in his respect for the work of women in the fellowship.
How might fellowships better teach the concept of “colaborers”?
It was not uncommon, yet highly-esteemed, when one literally suffered for the faith.
When have you been involved in a fellowship where leaders clearly sought the best-interest of one-another rather than competing?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone serving in a leadership role, official or unofficial, whom He would like to encourage and support.
Today I will give pray for the one whom the Lord God has “assigned” me. I will, as is appropriate, offer my assistance and support.
Thanks for Philemon’s Love and Faith
1:4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
1:5 because I hear of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
Lord, You ask us to pray for one-another, including giving thanks for those who partner with us in Your service. May I be faithful in remembering my partners in ministry as I live my prayers of thanks to You.
Paul began by role-modeling giving thanks to the Lord God in prayer.
He then taught, by example, Philemon to pray to the Lord God—giving thanks for those who partnered with him in the Lord's service.
Paul explained that despite his lengthy imprisonment he'd heard of Philemon and his faith the in the Lord Jesus.
He also testified to hearing that Philemon had given evidence of his genuine love for his fellow believers “saints”.
The Lord God wants us to give thanks in prayer for those who serve Him with us so that we never lose sight of Who we serve and that we serve together—not separately.
How might your fellowship better teach members to be more-intentional in praying for one-another?
Philemon could pray for his fellow “saints” because he was aware of them and he loved them.
When have you paused to pray for fellow believers?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a fellow believer whom He wants you to lift up in thankful prayer.
Today I will give thanks to the Lord God in prayer for the one whom He has made me especially aware. As is appropriate I will tell them so.
1:6 I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ.
1:7 I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Lord, You not only saved us, You have a storehouse of blessings You wish to give to us. May my choices be obedient so Your blessings flow through me to others.
Paul had received testimonies, both in word and deed, of the faith of Philemon.
He encouraged Philemon to continue to explore his faith as he would come to understand “... every blessing that belongs to you in Christ.”
Paul received “... great joy and encouragement” because the faith-fed love of Philemon, empowered by the Holy Spirit, had cause him to encourage “the hearts of the saints”.
The quality of our personal testimony, both in word and deed, matters.
How might your fellowship better teach the blessings that come from faith and faithfulness?
Philemon did not encourage the saints as a result of resources or wisdom of the flesh but rather as a consequence of blessings that flowed to and through him to others.
When have you observed a leader whose faith was strong and through whom others were blessed because the Lord God's blessings overflowed them?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a fellow believer with whom He wants you to share this text.
Today I will encourage a fellow believer to grow in faith as they better-understand the blessings the Lord God has for them so that He may pour those blessings through them into others.
Paul’s Request for Onesimus
1:8 So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper,
1:9 I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus—
1:10 I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus,
1:11 who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me.
Lord, You hold all of the ultimate power in all of Your creation, yet You have chosen to delegate and to invite rather than command and control. May I respond from my freedom with the love-based obedience You so richly deserve.
Paul reminded Philemon that he had the authority from the Lord God, through Christ, to make demands upon him.
He chose, as has the Lord, to appeal to him—based on love—to chose rightly.
Paul explained that he had mentored Onesimus to salvation and through discipleship and now held him in high-esteem.
He observed that the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus, prior to Paul's involvement, had been an unproductive one—but that had all changed.
The role-model of Jesus and of Paul was to teach and demonstrate love-based leadership.
How might your fellowship instill a stronger sense of love, rather than of obedience and/or ritual, into the membership—so that their service to others is both joy-filled and sacrificial?
When people make decisions based on the love-perspective they have learned from the Lord God they mature and become positive role-models for others.
When have you observed a leader who mentored a troubled person to maturity and value in the Lord's service?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone you may encourage and perhaps mentor to greater maturity in their walk with the Lord God.
Today I will prayerfully accept the challenge from the Holy Spirit. It may be a spouse, a friend, a son or daughter, a co-worker or someone within a ministry in which I serve. I will invest in prayer, teaching, and right modeling of love-driven service to others.
1:12 I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you.
1:13 I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel.
1:14 However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.
1:15 For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally,
1:16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord.
Lord, You often separate us from our familiar worldly circumstances so that You may get our attention and lead us toward You, because You desire our relationship eternally. May I never forget what You have done for me and never forget that when You work in my life Your ways are always-perfect whether I understand them at the time or not.
Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon because he wanted Philemon to have full-freedom to choose his path.
While Paul had a strong fellowship with Onesimus, and found him valuable to ministry, he was willing to sacrifice his presence and service for the sake of leading Philemon through a teachable moment.
He speculated, rhetorically (for the sake of leading Philemon to discover the Lord's hand in things), that Onesimus had fled Philemon as a slave to Paul so that he might be spiritually-saved.
Paul led Philemon to recognize that Onesimus, as a fellow-believer, was far more valuable than an unsaved slave.
Sometimes we have to allow those we mentor to make decisions freely, with full power to choose differently than we'd choose, within the bounds of legality.
How would you adjust your practice of mentoring to lead and model rather than instruct and control?
Paul modeled “meekness” as his was power (he had authority from the Lord God) under control (the control of the Lord) but withheld it for a better cause.
When have you observed a mentor who used Paul's method?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an opportunity to apply Paul's model.
Today I will take the risk of trying Paul's model. I will pray about it and as-appropriate consult one who qualifies as a Biblical elder for counsel and prayer.
1:17 Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.
1:18 Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me.
1:19 I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe me your very self.
1:20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
1:21 Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do.
Lord, I owe You my very self. May I repay You even more than the minimal obedience You ask of me.
Paul continued his mentoring of Philemon through the teachable case of Onesimus.
He knew that Philemon held him in high-esteem so he asked him to view Onesimus in the same way.
Paul wanted to remove any financial considerations that might burden Philemon and cloud his judgment of Onesimus, so Paul offered to cover any expenses he may have incurred while in the service of Philemon prior to fleeing to Paul and coming to faith.
He reminded Philemon that was he (Paul) who had led him to faith and mentored him, so for all that was important Philemon owed Paul for his sacrifice on his behalf.
Paul asked Philemon to refresh his soul with beyond-expectation faith and love-driven choices.
Every fellow believer is a brother or sister in-Christ.
Would you be willing to pay the debts of someone whom you led to Christ, mentored, loved dearly as a brother or sister in-Christ—in order that they might be reconciled to another brother or sister in-Christ whom they had previously wronged?
We all owe a debt of gratitude to the one who made themselves available to the Lord and became His instrument to lead us to faith and through discipleship.
When have you appealed to a brother or sister to change their view of a new brother or sister in-Christ whom they had previously viewed badly as an unsaved person?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone who needs you to speak-up for them within the fellowship of believers.
Today I will come alongside a fellow believer who is either somewhat new in faith or is recovering from a poor choice or choices. I will invest in their discipleship and walk with them through the process of reconciliation, and hopefully, restoration with the person (or persons) whom they have previously offended.
1:22 At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.
Concluding Greetings
1:23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.
1:24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too.
1:25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Lord, You bless the prayers of others who pray for us, and you give us Your grace through Your Holy Spirit. May I be faithful in praying for others and in living-out the grace You have given me.
Paul asked Philemon to pray for his freedom so that he might come to him.
He was sure enough that he asked Philemon to prepare a place for him to stay. (Philemon would have known that Paul's visit would likely be lengthy and would involve company and conflict.
Paul sent greetings from several who were with him, perhaps as assurance that he was not alone, and also as evidence that the Lord was still active in and through him.
His closing prayer was for the Holy Spirit to find a welcoming heart in Philemon such that he could be filled with the grace of Jesus.
Prayers for fellow believers are answered by the Lord God.
How might a prayer journal be helpful in building confidence that the Lord God answers prayers?
If we welcome Him the Holy Spirit will bless us with grace.
When have you observed answered prayer—raised by one believer for another—where the one praying made plans based on the expectation of answered prayer?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone for whom He wants you to pray.
Today I will pray without hesitation and in anticipation of the Lord God's perfect answer in His perfect time. I will ask at least one fellow believer to pray in-agreement.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –“Philemon”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in April of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections With a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
The authorship of the book of Hebrews is debated. An excellent discussion of the alternatives is contained in this article: http://bible.org/seriespage/hebrews-introduction-argument-and-outline
Their conclusion that it is probable that Barnabas was the primary author and the loquacious Apollos his co-author has the ring of truth to it given a careful study of the text.
The audience is obviously “completed Jews” (former Jews who have accepted Christ as their prophesied messiah) since Verse 1 reads “After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets...”.
Hebrews teaches that the same God Who spoke with power to the Jews has now spoken to them through the same Son “... whom He appointed heir of all things, and through Whom He created the world.”
[Note: Here and following the text speaks of Jesus, the Created man born of immaculate conception, rather than Christ the eternal member of the Trinity. It is important to understand the distinction because some who reject the concept of the Trinity misunderstand this, and the purpose thereof that the author makes of the distinction, and thus downgrade the entire Person of The Son to a sub-God entity somewhere between God and an angel.]
Hebrews then describes the Created Jesus:
“The Son is the radiance of His [God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - Trinity] glory...”
“The Son is ... the representation of His essence ...”
“... and He sustains all things by His powerful Word (the Word of His power) ...”
“... when He had accomplished cleansing for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high ...”
[Note: It has been suggested that this is a rhetorical reference to Psalm 110:1, David’s words reporting a prophesy to be passed from King to King. It’s purpose is a point of reference for Jewish readers, it is not intended to draw a literal equivalence between Jesus and any of the human kings of the OT.]
Introduction: God Has Spoken Fully and Finally in His Son
1:1 After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets,
1:2 in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world.
1:3 The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
1:4 Thus he became so far better than the angels as he has inherited a name superior to theirs.
The Son Is Superior to Angels
1:5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my son! Today I have fathered you”? And in another place he says, “I will be his father and he will be my son.”
1:6 But when he again brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him!”
1:7 And he says of the angels, “He makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire,”
1:8 but of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom.
1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. So God, your God, has anointed you over your companions with the oil of rejoicing.”
1:10 And, “You founded the earth in the beginning, Lord, and the heavens are the works of your hands.
1:11 They will perish, but you continue. And they will all grow old like a garment,
1:12 and like a robe you will fold them up and like a garment they will be changed, but you are the same and your years will never run out.”
1:13 But to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Lord, Your Son is as much part of You as the Holy Spirit and the Father, all are One. May I accept that You are not like us, that You exist outside of created time, and You will be fully known to us only in Heaven.
The author of Hebrews emphasized the continuous linkage from creation to the cross, and beyond; the Christ (the Messiah), the One Who created, and the One to Whom all Christians belong are a singular being.
Hebrews 1:3-7 has been misunderstood by some, out of full context, as describing a being apart from the Lord God. Such an understanding is incorrect. The purpose of the verse is to describe a purpose and a role and not the entirety of a being.
The core purpose of this text was to contrast the Son with the angels. [One may reasonably speculate at this point in the text that there was a doctrinal problem where some were teaching that Jesus, the Christ, was an angel.]
Hebrews 1:8-13 illuminates the verses that precede as it reads “... of the Son he [the Lord God] says, “Your [the Son’s] throne, O God [He is still speaking of the Son]. So, it is the Lord God describing Himself as the “person” of the Trinity Who is the Son.
The object of Hebrews was to more-closely link Jesus the Christ to the common Hebrew knowledge of the Old Testament prophesies and Psalms as a means to cause them to recognize Jesus the Christ as their long-awaited Messiah.
What are some practical ways to assist not-yet-completed Jews, and improperly discipled “Christians” (overloaded with the OT instead of immersed in the NT) to better understand Who Jesus the Christ is in the context of what they know of the OT?
This text clearly declared Jesus, the Created One, The Son, to be an eternal Person of the God-Trinity.
When did you come to a sense of clarity about the Trinity?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone who may be blessed by an introductory study of Hebrews.
Today I will invite the person He has appointed to me to walk with me through the next two weeks of daily studies of Hebrews. Or I will make some other arrangement to share with them what I will be learning.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Warning Against Drifting Away
2:1 Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
2:2 For if the message spoken through angels proved to be so firm that every violation or disobedience received its just penalty,
2:3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first communicated through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him,
2:4 while God confirmed their witness with signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Exposition of Psalm 8: Jesus and the Destiny of Humanity
2:5 For he did not put the world to come, about which we are speaking, under the control of angels.
2:6 Instead someone testified somewhere:
“What is man that you think of him or the son of man that you care for him?
2:7 You made him lower than the angels for a little while. You crowned him with glory and honor.
2:8 You put all things under his control.”
For when he put all things under his control, he left nothing outside of his control. At present we do not yet see all things under his control,
2:9 but we see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by God’s grace he would experience death on behalf of everyone.
2:10 For it was fitting for him, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
2:11 For indeed he who makes holy and those being made holy all have the same origin, and so he is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,
2:12 saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.”
2:13 Again he says, “I will be confident in him,” and again, “Here I am, with the children God has given me.”
2:14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil),
2:15 and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death.
2:16 For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham’s descendants.
2:17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
2:18 For since he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
Lord, You poured part of Yourself into Jesus to create a being both acceptable as a human who was sacrificed for all humankind and worthy as a perfect sacrifice (without sin because of His essence as The Son). May I never forget that You humbled Yourself because You so loved us.
The Law required letter-perfect adherence.
“... such a great salvation” is the gift of Christ – making salvation possible for humankind – something we could never have earned.
A right-response to the gift of Christ requires all to “pay closer attention to what we have heard of the gospel-emphasized by “... signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus, the Created Son-of-man, Who embodied “The Son” (member of the eternal Trinity) “... was made a little lower than the angels for a little while” so that He might bear our sin upon the Cross and open a path for us to follow.
[Note: Jewish tradition held a high view of angels and exalted their role in many things. The text of Hebrews makes a special effort to emphasize the higher view God placed upon man than even the angels.]
Jesus came for “... the descendants of Abraham”, not for the angels, and He has proclaimed “Here I am, with the children God has given me.”
Chapter two concluded “... since He Himself suffered when he was tempted [tested], He is able to help those who are tempted.
[Note: The better rendering would be “tested”, rather than “tempted”, as the Lord God never tempts nor is He – even in the form of Jesus – tempted. One is tempted only when one faces a test and chooses to listen to the enemy rather than the Lord God.]
The amazing truth that Jesus, the Created Son-of-man, Who embodied “The Son” (member of the eternal Trinity) “... was made a little lower than the angels for a little while” so that He might bear our sin upon the Cross and open a path for us to follow.
What are some practical ways that we may assure that “... such a great salvation” as is the gift of Christ is never be forgotten in our lives and that of our fellowships?
The amazing declaration made by Jesus “Here I am, with the children God has given me.”
When have you observed an example of the Lord God’s blessing because of His promise and provision that “... since He Himself suffered when he was tempted [tested], He is able to help those who are tempted [tested]?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an opportunity to assist a fellow believer to remember the Gospel.
Today I will encourage and pray so that when the enemy attempts to deceive him or her he will fail. If that fellow believer is already struggling to keep a test from becoming a temptation I will remind them what Jesus has done and the power they have to stand.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Jesus and Moses
3:1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partners in a heavenly calling, take note of Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess,
3:2 who is faithful to the one who appointed him, as Moses was also in God’s house.
3:3 For he has come to deserve greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house deserves greater honor than the house itself!
3:4 For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.
3:5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken.
3:6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. We are of his house, if in fact we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope we take pride in.
Exposition of Psalm 95: Hearing God’s Word in Faith
3:7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks!
3:8 “Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness.
3:9 “There your fathers tested me and tried me, and they saw my works for forty years.
3:10 “Therefore, I became provoked at that generation and said, ‘Their hearts are always wandering and they have not known my ways.’
3:11 “As I swore in my anger, ‘They will never enter my rest!’”
3:12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God.
3:13 But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,” that none of you may become hardened by sin’s deception.
3:14 For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we hold our initial confidence firm until the end.
3:15 As it says, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
3:16 For which ones heard and rebelled? Was it not all who came out of Egypt under Moses’ leadership?
3:17 And against whom was God provoked for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness?
3:18 And to whom did he swear they would never enter into his rest, except those who were disobedient?
3:19 So we see that they could not enter because of unbelief.
Lord, Jesus as an extension of You (in the Person of the Son), built Your Church on Earth and because He guarantees our salvation through His acceptable sacrifice and His divinity we have assurance. May I never doubt that my salvation is secure in Him and never as a result of my works.
Hebrews challenges the reader, especially one from a traditional Jewish background (or one immersed in a retro-OT form of neo-Christianity), to compare and contrast Jesus with Moses.
“Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess ... faithful ... as Moses was also ...”
Jesus “... has come to deserve more glory than Moses ...”
Jesus “... the builder of a house deserves greater honor than the house itself”
“Moses was faithful in all God’s house ... to testify to the things that would be spoken.”
“But Christ is faithful as a Son *over* God’s house. We are of his house.”
A challenge of Hebrews, based on Psalm 95, is that upon hearing the truth one not harden one’s heart against that truth “... sin’s deception ... as in the rebellion” [of Israel] but rather to acknowledge the truth and to act upon it.
Rebellion against the gospel is a rebellion which parallels that of those who provoked God into a forty-year banishment into the wilderness which led to their death. “... they could not enter [the Promised Land] because of unbelief.”
Hebrews 3:12-19 has been misunderstood as teaching that one may lose their salvation, and while technically true, effectively that is not the case. The Word of God allows for only one means by which one may lose salvation, once truly gained, and that is what is being described here (and further clarified Mark 3:28-30). One must go so far as to “blaspheme the Holy Spirit”, meaning to deny the faith – guaranteed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Such an action would appear to be nearly impossible for a truly saved person.
The contrast between Jesus and Moses, while Moses faithfully told of God’s promise, Jesus actually built the “house of promise”. [His “Church” and “... the mansion (in Heaven) prepared for you.”]
Do we have practical ways to help people to see the differences between Moses and Jesus?
The challenge is to surrender everything to the new covenant gift of Jesus.
What example can you use from a workplace or hobby or other modern experience to create a word-picture of the compare-and-contrast explanation of Jesus versus Moses?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an opportunity to share Hebrews with someone whom you know who is from a traditional Jewish background, or some other OT-centric background.
Today I will pray for the courage and wisdom to share gently and respectfully with the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
God’s Promised Rest
4:1 Therefore we must be wary that, while the promise of entering his rest remains open, none of you may seem to have come short of it.
4:2 For we had good news proclaimed to us just as they did. But the message they heard did them no good, since they did not join in with those who heard it in faith.
4:3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my anger, ‘They will never enter my rest!’” And yet God’s works were accomplished from the foundation of the world.
4:4 For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works,”
4:5 but to repeat the text cited earlier: “They will never enter my rest!”
4:6 Therefore it remains for some to enter it, yet those to whom it was previously proclaimed did not enter because of disobedience.
4:7 So God again ordains a certain day, “Today,” speaking through David after so long a time, as in the words quoted before, “O, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts.”
4:8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken afterward about another day. 4:9 Consequently a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God.
4:10 For the one who enters God’s rest has also rested from his works, just as God did from his own works.
4:11 Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.
4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart
4:13 And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.
Jesus Our Compassionate High Priest
4:14 Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.
4:15 For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.
4:16 Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.
Lord, we must do more than to confess You with our mouths if we wish to have certain-salvation, we must genuinely surrender to Your Lordship with our hearts. May I be sure to challenge every new believer to know that they have absolutely-surrendered.
While it has generally been said that Hebrews was addressed to Hebrew-believers it may be more-correct to say that it was addressed to those who were among the Hebrew-believers – because this text addresses incomplete-believers “Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.” rather than believers-only.
Disobedience, or rebellion, against the Lordship of God was what got Adam and Eve kicked out of the Garden.
Disobedience, or rebellion (as reported in the text of Hebrews 3), is what kept the adult (age of accountability) Jews out of the Promised Land.
Disobedience, or rebellion (against the full Lordship of Christ), is the same disqualification which God places upon the admission of anyone to Heaven.
The Jews and Gentiles alike heard from Jesus as He proclaimed the “... good news”, yet it was up to each to “... join in with those who heard it in faith.”
Neither Moses or Joshua brought their people to the “rest” of which God speaks; through David the Lord God said “Today, after so long a time ...” he still desires to bring to them His eternal rest from the works of the law.
“And God rested on the seventh day from all *His* works.” [Emphasis on “His”, added.] - through Jesus the Christ, the Lord God desires that, through faith, we also may rest (a “Sabbath rest) from our fruitless efforts that are works-seeking-righteousness-to-earn-admission-into-Heaven.
“... the Word of God [the Holy Spirit, enlightening and empowering the written Word] is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it [the Word through the Holy Spirit] is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.
“... no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must render an account.”
“Therefore ...”
“... we have a great high priest”
“Who has passed through the heavens ...”
“Jesus the son of God”
“... let us hold fast to our confession”
He is not “... incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses”
He “... has been tempted [tested] in every way as we are, yet without sin.”
“Therefore ...”
“... let us confidently approach the throne of grace”
“... to receive mercy and find grace”
“... whenever we need help.”
Jews and Gentiles alike heard from Jesus as He proclaimed the “... good news”, yet it was up to each to “... join-in with those who heard it in faith.” Salvation is volitional.
What are some ways you might explain to a “not-yet-completed Jew”, or someone who has been immersed in neo-Christian OT-centrism, that neither Moses or Joshua brought their people to the “rest” of which God speaks. The Lord God said, through David, “Today, after so long a time ...” that He still desires to bring to them His eternal rest – apart from the works of the law.
One may claim the name of Christ, as in the parable of Jesus some will come saying “Lord, Lord” but He will send them away saying “... I never knew you” - because they never truly surrendered.
When have you observed a practical example of the gospel presented to a varied audience and the obvious choices made by different people to either respond or to reject. What were some of the reasons given for either choice?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a “not-yet-completed Jew”, or someone who has been immersed in neo-Christian OT-centrism, who in either case is trapped in the bondage of works-righteousness.
Today I will share with them the teaching that Jesus brings a “sabbath rest” which frees them from works-righteousness.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
5:1 For every high priest is taken from among the people and appointed to represent them before God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
5:2 He is able to deal compassionately with those who are ignorant and erring, since he also is subject to weakness,
5:3 and for this reason he is obligated to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people.
5:4 And no one assumes this honor on his own initiative, but only when called to it by God, as in fact Aaron was.
5:5 So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming high priest, but the one who glorified him was God, who said to him, “You are my Son! Today I have fathered you,”
5:6 as also in another place God says, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
5:7 During his earthly life Christ offered both requests and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death and he was heard because of his devotion.
5:8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered.
5:9 And by being perfected in this way, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
5:10 and he was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
The Need to Move on to Maturity
5:11 On this topic we have much to say and it is difficult to explain, since you have become sluggish in hearing.
5:12 For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God’s utterances. You have gone back to needing milk, not solid food.
5:13 For everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced in the message of righteousness, because he is an infant.
5:14 But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.
Lord, the Son is eternal and Lord God, Jesus the Christ born of the virgin (Mary) – as promised when the curse of the Fall was declared – and prophesied prior to His arrival. May I recognize and worship the sacrifice of the Son to humble Himself to provide salvation for humankind.
The historic practice of OT priests was that, like Aaron, they were called from among the people (the Tribe of Levites) and “appointed” to make sacrifices for others and themselves - because they were no more perfect than those whom they served.
Jesus the Christ, the “begotten” son of God, “... did not glorify himself ... the one who glorified him was God”.
During the days of his life in the flesh “Christ offered both requests and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death and he was heard because of his devotion.”
“Although he was a son he learned obedience through the things he suffered.”
“And by being perfected in this way, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, and he was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.”
[Note: Psalm 110:4 refers to Melchizedek and the NET Bible translator’s notes explain that “... the order of Melchizedek was a combination of king and priest which was superior in hierarchy to the Aaronic priesthood. The general geographical location from which Melchizedek came at the time of his interaction with Abraham is found in Genesis 13:18 as Abraham came from his home in Hebron - where he had last set his tents - to rescue Lot and returned there to be greeted and blessed by Melchizedek “king of Salem” Gen. 14:18-20. The NET translator’s notes suggest that Melchizedek may have been from “... the Jebusite stronghold of Jerusalem ... a Canaanite royal priest whom God used to renew the promise of His blessing to Abram ...”]
[Note: The key here is that Melchizedek’s role was one of spiritual and kingly authority - sent by God to affirm a promise of God. The role of Jesus is the same - He brings spiritual authority for salvation from God, He brings kingly authority over our earthly existence, also from God, and He is the fulfillment of God’s promise of redemption.]
The important message is that all authority and purpose, for Christians, comes from the Lord God and no other source.
How would you help members of your fellowship better understand that Jesus brings spiritual authority for salvation from God, kingly authority over our earthly existence, also from God, and He is the fulfillment of God’s promise of redemption?
Hebrews links the OT history to the new in order to draw not-yet-completed Jews, and those immersed in neo-Christian OT teachings, to the inevitable conclusions of the Gospel.
When have you learned obedience through the things you suffered, even as you offered both requests and supplications to God with loud cries and tears, living-out the model of Jesus?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an area where He wants you to reconsider the level of your devotion in allowing Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, to be your daily authority in both physical and spiritual matters.
Today I will offer up my requests and supplications to God with loud cries and tears and stand ready to learn and to mature, no matter what.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
6:1 Therefore we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ and move on to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works and faith in God,
6:2 teaching about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
6:3 And this is what we intend to do, if God permits.
6:4 For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
6:5 tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age,
6:6 and then have committed apostasy, to renew them again to repentance, since they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again and holding him up to contempt.
6:7 For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God.
6:8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed; its fate is to be burned.
6:9 But in your case, dear friends, even though we speak like this, we are convinced of better things relating to salvation.
6:10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints.
6:11 But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end,
6:12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.
6:13 Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,
6:14 saying, “Surely I will bless you greatly and multiply your descendants abundantly.”
6:15 And so by persevering, Abraham inherited the promise.
6:16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and the oath serves as a confirmation to end all dispute.
6:17 In the same way God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, and so he intervened with an oath,
6:18 so that we who have found refuge in him may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie.
6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain,
6:20 where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
Lord, You teach us the essentials of Your Gospel so as to lead us to salvation, then you expect us to trust You and move-ahead to maturity and service. May I challenge fellow believers to never look back, rather pressing-ahead, never doubting what is the foundation of our faith.
The author of Hebrews challenged believers to mature, that it was not useful to revisit “... the elementary instructions about Christ”.
Anyone who was still questioning such teachings was either unsaved or very immature – definitely not appropriate for leadership.
Hebrews warned that “... it is impossible in the case of ... (those who) ... have committed apostasy, to renew them again to repentance, since they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again and holding him up to contempt.”
[Note: Beginning at the conclusion of this argument, the text appears to say that one who denies the finality of forgiveness (and of salvation by faith, not works) also denies ones own salvation, since the consequence of such a philosophy would be the need for Christ to be as an OT sacrifice - only a temporary covering for each specific event of sin.]
The elements of their experience with Christ which they had rejected included:
“... once have been enlightened” [Heard the gospel.]
“... tasted the heavenly gift” [Been in the presence of Jesus through His Holy Spirit.]
“... become partakers of the Holy Spirit” [Observed the power of the Holy Spirit to heal, observed the miraculous “signs and wonders”, experienced the exceptional love among the truly saved who were submitted to and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, may even have themselves been “touched” by the power of the Holy Spirit - as was the experience of the OT saints whom the Holy Spirit touched on occasion.]
“... tasted the good Word of God” [Were among those who participating in discipleship, even though they were not themselves truly saved.]
“... and the miracles of the coming age” [Observed the salvation of others and the prophesies unfolding.]
[Note: The reason why the fallen angels cannot be saved is that they were in the presence of the Lord God, they had full-knowledge, and still rebelled.]
Hebrews is quick to remind the faithful that the promise of God is secure, yet it encourages them to be equally passionate with those who brought them the “... good Word of God” and who discipled them and to “... not be sluggish”.
Hebrews reminded Jewish readers that “... when God made His promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, he swore by Himself ... the oath serves as a confirmation ... His promise was unchangeable ... we have found refuge in Him ... since it is impossible for God to lie.”
Chapter 6 concluded “We have had this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since He became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
“... when God made His promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, he swore by Himself ... the oath serves as a confirmation ... His promise was unchangeable ... we have found refuge in Him ... since it is impossible for God to lie.”
How might your fellowship do a more-effective job of moving believers decisively-past “... the elementary instructions about Christ” and on to greater maturity and service?
The text of Hebrews appears to say that without the finality of forgiveness and imparted-righteousness Christ must be only an OT sacrifice, a temporary covering for a specific sins, over and over again.
When have you observed believers who have become so “sluggish” in their faith such that they required the teaching of the most elementary principles of the gospel over and over and never seemed to mature? What was the solution, and if none was applied, what was the result?
Ask the Holy Spirit to review your spiritual maturity and to reveal any place where you may have grown “sluggish”.
Today I will partner with a fellow believer in prayer and action in order to to move toward maturity and away from any uncertainty about the “... elementary instructions about Christ” as described in Hebrews 6.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Nature of Melchizedek’s Priesthood
7:1 Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him.
7:2 To him also Abraham apportioned a tithe of everything. His name first means king of righteousness, then king of Salem, that is, king of peace.
7:3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God, and he remains a priest for all time.
7:4 But see how great he must be, if Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of his plunder.
7:5 And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, although they too are descendants of Abraham.
7:6 But Melchizedek who does not share their ancestry collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed the one who possessed the promise.
7:7 Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior,
7:8 and in one case tithes are received by mortal men, while in the other by him who is affirmed to be alive.
7:9 And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham.
7:10 For he was still in his ancestor Abraham’s loins when Melchizedek met him.
Jesus and the Priesthood of Melchizedek
7:11 So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood – for on that basis the people received the law – what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order?
7:12 For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come as well.
7:13 Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever officiated at the altar.
7:14 For it is clear that our Lord is descended from Judah, yet Moses said nothing about priests in connection with that tribe.
7:15 And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,
7:16 who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical descent but by the power of an indestructible life.
7:17 For here is the testimony about him: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
7:18 On the one hand a former command is set aside because it is weak and useless,
7:19 for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
7:20 And since this was not done without a sworn affirmation – for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation,
7:21 but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’” –
7:22 accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
7:23 And the others who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them from continuing in office,
7:24 but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever.
7:25 So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
7:26 For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
7:27 He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all.
7:28 For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness, but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever.
Lord, You have replaced the covenant of law with a covenant of love – an intimate and eternal relationship with surrendered-humankind through Jesus. May I never forget from what I have been set free and to whom I am love-bound to be gratefully-surrendered.
Hebrews revisits the matter of Abraham paying tithes to Melchizedek, a man “Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God ...”, adding that one only pays a tithe to one who is greater.
[Note: The Bible sometimes uses phrases such as “is like” to mean “is”, perhaps an anomaly of the translation process. In this case it seems that Melchizedek is a case of Jesus, outside of the constraints of time – as He is the embodiment of God - appearing in the Old Testament.)
The One “like Melchizedek” Who came, Jesus the Christ, was not of the Aaronic line but was a high priest.
The law was set aside “... because it is weak and useless, for the law made nothing perfect.”
Jesus has the power from God to make one perfect, Jesus never dies, therefore Jesus can save us completely whereas the old priests provided temporary refuge and were themselves subject to death.
“... the Word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever.”
[Note: The “solemn affirmation” was from the Lord God “You are a priest forever ...”.]
There is a clear contrast between the law, which illustrates sin and illuminates our need for Christ but cannot make us perfect (therefore, cannot save us eternally) and the gift of Christ which is the power to make perfect and therefore to save.
What are some practical ways to illustrate the differences between the purpose of the law and the purpose of grace?
It is the eternal-essence of Jesus the Christ that which makes Him the son of God and an eternal member of the Triune Godhead.
When have you observed an example of the confusion created when a pastor or a teacher, or someone else, claims Biblical authority or wisdom but then confuses the purpose of the law and grace? What was the result?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone with whom you already have a respect/trust relationship but who is confused about law and grace and to give you an opportunity to share this chapter of Hebrews with them
Today I am committing to pray for humility and patience and I agree to pray fervently that the one who needs clarity will see and respond wisely to the light of this Word.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – Section 1 of 2 the series, “Hebrews” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in April of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The High Priest of a Better Covenant
8:1 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We have such a high priest, one who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
8:2 a minister in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up.
8:3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. So this one too had to have something to offer.
8:4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.
8:5 The place where they serve is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, just as Moses was warned by God as he was about to complete the tabernacle. For he says, “See that you make everything according to the design shown to you on the mountain.”
8:6 But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises.
8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, no one would have looked for a second one.
8:8 But showing its fault, God says to them,
“Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
8:9 “It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the Lord.
8:10 “For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and I will inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God and they will be my people.
8:11 “And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ since they will all know me, from the least to the greatest.
8:12 “For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer.”
8:13 When he speaks of a new covenant, he makes the first obsolete. Now what is growing obsolete and aging is about to disappear.
Lord, You have provided a pathway to Heaven, where Your covenant is perfect and pure love and everyone dwells in it. May I be encouraged to mature here so that I may be an encouragement to others to seek after the same unique covenant.
Building upon Chapter 7 the text brings the reader to Moses on the mountain with the Lord God where he was shown an image of the “heavenly sanctuary” upon which he was to model the temporary sanctuary for sacrifice on earth.
The text instructs “But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that He mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises.”
The text describes how the failure of the first covenant “... because they did not continue in My covenant” ... created the need for a new covenant.
The condition of the new covenant is that “I will put my laws in their minds and I will inscribe them on their hearts”.
[Note: This describes one of the essential minimums of true salvation; we surrender our free will so that the Lord God may put His laws in our minds and inscribe them on our hearts”. It also describes one of the roles of the Holy Spirit inside of every believer. And it describes a non-negotiable of anyone permitted into Heaven; they must have been equipped to obey.]
Hebrews concludes with a powerful challenge to those who remained stuck in OT-legalism “When He speaks of a new covenant, He makes the first obsolete. Now what is growing obsolete and aging is about to disappear.”
Hebrews 7 declared the old covenant ineffective as it made nothing perfect. It was not the covenant that fail but the human half of the covenant participants.
What are some practical ways to assist prospective new believers to understand one of the essential minimums of true salvation; we surrender our free will so that God may “... put His laws in our minds and inscribe them on our hearts”?
This is a powerful teaching “But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that He mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises.”
When did you learn that the non-negotiable of anyone permitted into Heaven is that all must have been equipped to obey (thus be incapable of rebellion)?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to someone who is stuck in OT-legalism.
Today I will use this text to explain the freedom that comes from understanding “When He speaks of a new covenant, He makes the first obsolete. Now what is growing obsolete and aging is about to disappear.”
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Arrangement and Ritual of the Earthly Sanctuary
9:1 Now the first covenant, in fact, had regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary. 9:2 For a tent was prepared, the outer one, which contained the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; this is called the holy place. 9:3 And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies. 9:4 It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 9:5 And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail. 9:6 So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties. 9:7 But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.
9:8 The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the holy place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing.
9:9 This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper. 9:10 They served only for matters of food and drink and various washings; they are external regulations imposed until the new order came.
Christ’s Service in the Heavenly Sanctuary
9:11 But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation,
9:12 and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured eternal redemption.
9:13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled consecrated them and provided ritual purity, 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.
9:15 And so he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.
9:16 For where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be proven.
9:17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it carries no force while the one who made it is alive. 9:18 So even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood.
9:19 For when Moses had spoken every command to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats with water and scarlet wool and hyssop and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 9:20 and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep.” 9:21 And both the tabernacle and all the utensils of worship he likewise sprinkled with blood.
9:22 Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
9:23 So it was necessary for the sketches of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves required better sacrifices than these.
9:24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands – the representation of the true sanctuary – but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us.
9:25 And he did not enter to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own, 9:26 for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice.
9:27 And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment,
9:28 so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation.
Lord, Your sacrifice was more powerful than the millions of sacrifices of millions of Israelites for hundreds of years, and those whose names are in Your Book of Life will welcome Your return to make-complete the salvation You have brought. May I be faithful to tell Your story so that many will choose to share in the Gospel promise of salvation.
Hebrews documented the need for The Christ “...gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper. ”
The sacrifice of Jesus the Christ was unique “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands – the representation of the true sanctuary – but into heaven itself,”
And His work while “finished” (in the sense that the sin-death mandate had been broken) is not done “… and he appears now in God’s presence for us.”
Our Lord Jesus the Christ “... has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice.”
“Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation.”
The repeated message of Hebrews was that “... the law perfected nothing”, here rephrased “... gifts and sacrifices ... could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper.”
What are some practical ways that one might describe the contrast between the OT sacrificial system and the provision of Christ, and His unique capacity to “... purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.”?
Take note of the volitional aspect of both actions; Jesus the Christ as “... the mediator of a new covenant”, replacing the temporary blood of the old covenant with his own “... once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation.” -- Christ voluntarily sacrificing for others, and those who will be saved first being in a receptive state “... eagerly await”.
When have you observed an example in your own life, or in that of someone whom you know, moving from “... dead works to worship the living God.” because of a newfound understanding of this text?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an opportunity to share this text with someone who is still trapped in works-righteousness
Today I will describe to them the contrast between the OT sacrificial system and the provision of Christ, and His unique capacity to “... purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.” who alone can “... bring salvation.”
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Concluding Exposition: Old and New Sacrifices Contrasted
10:1 For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship.
10:2 For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have no further consciousness of sin? 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. 10:4 For the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins.
10:5 So when he came into the world, he said,
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.
10:6 “Whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you took no delight in.
10:7 “Then I said, ‘Here I am: I have come – it is written of me in the scroll of the book – to do your will, O God.’”
10:8 When he says above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you did not desire nor did you take delight in them” (which are offered according to the law), 10:9 then he says, “Here I am: I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first to establish the second.
10:10 By his will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
10:11 And every priest stands day after day serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again – sacrifices that can never take away sins.
10:12 But when this priest had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God, 10:13 where he is now waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet.
10:14 For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy.
10:15 And the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us, for after saying, 10:16 “This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws on their hearts and I will inscribe them on their minds,”
10:17 then he says, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer.”
10:18 Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Lord, You have set me free, I owe my eternal life to You. May I live here and now in grateful thanks for the then and forever that awaits.
“For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship.”
[Note: God repeats Himself yet again, always evidence that He really wants us to get the message, “... completely unable ... to perfect those who come to worship”.]
The text instructs that if sacrifices under the law had the power to “perfect” then they would have ceased long ago as all would have been perfected. It goes on to remind that Psalms 40 said that God did not “...take delight” in the offerings made under the law.
[Note: The purpose of the law and sacrifices was to press His people to recognize their dependence upon Him and to point ahead to Jesus. When Jesus began His ministry He specifically pointed to His purpose in fulfilling what the law and sacrifices which attempted to fulfill our need for perfect forgiveness, but failed.]
“He does away with the first to establish the second. By His will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all ... when this priest (Jesus) had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God, where He is now waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for His feet.”
“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer. Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.”
The Lord God places great importance on our understanding that “the law and sacrifices are ... completely unable ... to perfect those who come to worship”.
What are some practical ways to explain the linkages between the work of Jesus and the historic OT law and sacrifices?
We have been given freedom from the condemnation of the enemy because Jesus the Christ declared “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer. Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.”
When have you experienced an example of God’s forgiveness in your life which has set you free from something in your past - liberating you to live a life at peace with God and to serve Him more effectively?
Ask the Holy Spirit to search out any place in your life where unforgiveness in your past, despite the your efforts at sacrificial service as a form of works-righteousness, may have become unforgiveness in your present.
Today I will partner with the Holy Spirit, and I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me and to assist me with accountability - so that once I accept the forgiveness of Christ I do not give-away power to the enemy by accepting any of the enemy’s accusations against me for something the Lord God has forgiven.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Drawing Near to God in Enduring Faith
10:19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,
10:20 by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
10:21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
10:22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.
10:23 And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy.
10:24 And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works,
10:25 not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.
10:26 For if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us,
10:27 but only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume God’s enemies. 10:28 Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
10:29 How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt for the Son of God, and profanes the blood of the covenant that made him holy, and insults the Spirit of grace?
10:30 For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
10:31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
10:32 But remember the former days when you endured a harsh conflict of suffering after you were enlightened.
10:33 At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and afflictions, and at other times you came to share with others who were treated in that way.
10:34 For in fact you shared the sufferings of those in prison, and you accepted the confiscation of your belongings with joy, because you knew that you certainly had a better and lasting possession.
10:35 So do not throw away your confidence, because it has great reward.
10:36 For you need endurance in order to do God’s will and so receive what is promised.
10:37 For just a little longer and he who is coming will arrive and not delay.
10:38 But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I take no pleasure in him.
10:39 But we are not among those who shrink back and thus perish, but are among those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Lord, You saved us, You disciple us, You defend us, You bless us, You have given to us Your indwelling Holy Spirit, and You allow us to be Your instruments in this world – You expect that we will not deliberately rebel. May I continue to mature so that I will contemplate rebellion less-often and stand when tested (so I am not tempted) more-often.
The text encourages believers to draw near to God because our faith is in the One Who opened the way to Him and Who has made us spiritually-pure.
We are exhorted to “spur one another on to love and good works ... not abandoning our own meetings”
[Note: This necessarily requires that we be intentional about what we say and do - in order to both present a positive role model and effectively teach and encourage others. There is also an implication that believers were choosing to gather with non-believers instead of gathering with believers, for reasons not clear in the text, but the need to gather-together is emphasized again here as elsewhere in the NT. The Lord God repeats messages He wants us not to miss.]
The text then gives a warning to those who remain in rebellion, through intentional and unrepentant sin, despite receiving the Word of truth. It reminds the reader of the OT consequences of rebellion against “the law of Moses”, summarizing “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Believers are cautioned to remember that they endured troubles early on in their faith, and that more endurance may be required of them, but despite their losses they have remained standing “... because you knew that you certainly had a better and lasting possession.”
Hebrews 10 concludes with a contrast between those who have heard the Word yet failed to respond and live with perseverance through faith “... if he shrinks back, I take no pleasure in him” versus those who heard and responded and persevered “But we are not among those who shrink back and thus perish, but are among those who have faith and preserve their souls.”
It is a remarkable contrast between those who have heard the Word yet failed to respond and live with perseverance through faith “... if he shrinks back, I take no pleasure in him” versus those who heard and responded and persevered “But we are not among those who shrink back and thus perish, but are among those who have faith and preserve their souls.”
What are some practical ways to “spur one another on to love and good works ... not abandoning our own meetings”?
The consequence for those who do not live under the grace of the salvation of Christ is that they remain in slavery to sin and under the judgment of law-without-mercy of the former covenant.
When have you experienced or observed a practical example of being intentional about what is said and what is done in order to both present a positive role model and effectively teach and encourage others?
Ask the Holy Spirit to examine your faithfulness in spurring “one another on to love and good works … not abandoning our own meetings” and in being intentional about what you say and do.
Today I am choosing to both present a positive role model and effectively teach and encourage others. Where I find a lapse in my faithfulness to the Word of God I will ask the Holy Spirit to find me a willing follower of His leading to a more righteous place in my daily walk.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
People Commended for Their Faith
11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.
11:2 For by it the people of old received God’s commendation.
11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.
11:4 By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith he still speaks, though he is dead.
11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God.
11:6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
11:7 By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out without understanding where he was going.
11:9 By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land as though it were a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise.
11:10 For he was looking forward to the city with firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11:11 By faith, even though Sarah herself was barren and he was too old, he received the ability to procreate, because he regarded the one who had given the promise to be trustworthy.
11:12 So in fact children were fathered by one man – and this one as good as dead – like the number of stars in the sky and like the innumerable grains of sand on the seashore.
11:13 These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth.
11:14 For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
11:15 In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
11:16 But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He had received the promises, yet he was ready to offer up his only son.
11:18 God had told him, “Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name,”
11:19 and he reasoned that God could even raise him from the dead, and in a sense he received him back from there.
11:20 By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.
11:21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped as he leaned on his staff.
11:22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions about his burial.
11:23 By faith, when Moses was born, his parents hid him for three months, because they saw the child was beautiful and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
11:24 By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
11:25 choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin’s fleeting pleasure.
11:26 He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on the reward.
11:27 By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king’s anger, for he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible.
11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.
11:29 By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if on dry ground, but when the Egyptians tried it, they were swallowed up.
11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after the people marched around them for seven days.
11:31 By faith Rahab the prostitute escaped the destruction of the disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace.
11:32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets.
11:33 Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions,
11:34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight,
11:35 and women received back their dead raised to life. But others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life.
11:36 And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
11:37 They were stoned, sawed apart, murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated
11:38 (the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth.
11:39 And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.
11:40 For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us.
Lord, Your list of faith-models is instructive, the martydom of Christians a sobering testimony to the hate-filled fury of the enemy and the power of truth to prevail. May I learn from those who have come before, share their testimonies, and model my commitment after theirs.
Hebrews challenges the reader with a powerful statement “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.” The text then sets out to explain and “prove” this through the lives of OT persons.
In the OT “... people of old received God’s commendation”. A prime example is Abraham in Genesis 15:6 “Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord considered his response of faith proof of genuine loyalty.”
“... we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.
“Now without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who approaches God must believe that He exists and that he rewards those who seek Him.”
“By faith Abel ...”
“By faith Enoch ...”
“By faith Noah ...”
“By faith Abraham ...”
“These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth ... they were seeking a homeland ... a heavenly one”
“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.”
“By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped as he leaned on his staff.
By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions about his burial.”
[Note: Joseph prophesied the Exodus and that his bones should travel with his people to the Promised Land.]
Hebrews 11 reports the faith that caused Moses’ parents to hide him without fear of Pharaoh, Moses to leave Pharaoh for God’s people, and on through the generations leaders of faith; Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel. It also describes the deprivation and suffering and death of the faithful over time.
Hebrews 11 concludes “For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us.”
The Lord God places great importance on a genuine faith.
How might we disciple a genuine faith like that which empowered these OT persons to be used so mightily of the Lord God?
These people of faith recognize the dividing line of value between the things and faith.
When have you experienced a difficult choice you have made, knowing that the consequences would likely not be to your temporary benefit here on earth, but that based on faith you knew to be right before God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you one place in your life where you have placed worldly comfort or convenience above faithfulness to God’s call.
Today I will study the OT people of faith to prayerfully reflect on how I may bring more of my life into line with felicity to the call of the Lord God on me.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Lord’s Discipline
12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,
12:2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
12:3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.
12:4 You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed in your struggle against sin.
12:5 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons?
“My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you.
12:6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.”
12:7 Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?
12:8 But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.
12:9 Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life?
12:10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.
12:11 Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.
12:12 Therefore, strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees, 12:13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed.
Do Not Reject God’s Warning
12:14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.
12:15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.
12:16 And see to it that no one becomes an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
12:17 For you know that later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing with tears.
12:18 For you have not come to something that can be touched, to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind 12:19 and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words such that those who heard begged to hear no more. 12:20 For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” 12:21 In fact, the scene was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.”
12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly 12:23 and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect, 12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does.
12:25 Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven? 12:26 Then his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too.”
12:27 Now this phrase “once more” indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain.
12:28 So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe. 12:29 For our God is indeed a devouring fire.
Lord, Your discipline purifies, and all who are truly Yours will welcome Your purification – no matter the cost. May I welcome learning and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit so that I will not require the harsher discipline of the Lord God as He purifies me.
The Lord God purifies “... we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses ... we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus”
We surrender the easy stuff but avoid the difficult “You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed in your struggle against sin. Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons.”
“But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.”
[Note: It is often considered a test of our value to God that the enemy feels threatened enough to divert resource to attack us, but here it is the discipline of the Lord which defines us as His and therefore worthy of re-direction when we drift toward sin, though it is sometimes the case that the Lord will allow the enemy as a tool of His discipline of us.]
“Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.”
[Note: This does not intend to promote pacifism in the face of a violent threat, it is about relationships and about our half of the relationship, we cannot control the actions of another - though we can model peace and not respond in-kind to those who are not acting in a peaceful manner. Also, the last phrase refers to us, that is that “no one will see the Lord” in us if we do not seek peace and holiness in our daily walk.]
“See that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.”
[Note: The NET translator’s notes link this to Deut. 29:17 which refers to someone with a self-serving conditional relationship with God - which is not an acceptable relationship at all and will poison them and others around them.]
And see to it that no one becomes an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you have not come to something that can be touched [as in the Exodus 19:12-13 experience of Moses on the mountain] ... But you have come to Mount Zion ...”
[Note: The contrast here is between a law-based relationship and an intimate relationship, the first driven by fear-based obedience, the latter on love-based awe and obligation.]
“I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too. Now this phrase “once more” indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken will remain.”
[Note: The Lord God, through Jesus, brings us into the “unshakable kingdom” of eternity with Him, He then will obliterate everything that was created and rendered sinful through the twin rebellions of the enemy and of Adam and Eve. Nothing will remain.]
“... let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe.”
The Lord God expects us to resist sin “... to the point of bloodshed”, not the blood of others but our own. He also expects us to have an unconditional relationship with Him, for if we harbor selfish motives we will become bitter toward Him when discipline comes and will spread that bitterness.
What are some practical ways to “Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.”? Consider intentionally avoiding conflict by being vessels of His peace and intentionally combining a peaceful attitude with a holy walk so that people may see Christ in us and want what we have.
The Lord God will return to judge the world and to obliterate everything of earth and Heaven that is not part of His eternal perfect kingdom. This includes not only the physical world but also unsaved humans and the rebellious angels who followed the enemy.
When have you struggled to resist sin and lived-out the fruits of a good witness – by seeking peace and holiness - for Christ?
Ask the Holy Spirit to use you to draw someone nearer to a decision to surrender to Him and thus to share in the joy of your salvation.
Today I am choosing to resist sin and to seek peace and holiness so that the fruits of a good witness for Christ will make it possible for the Holy Spirit to use me. I will share the results of this with at least one other believer so that they may be encouraged to do the same.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Final Exhortations
13:1 Brotherly love must continue.
13:2 Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.
13:3 Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them, and those ill-treated as though you too felt their torment.
13:4 Marriage must be honored among all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers.
13:5 Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.”
13:6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
13:7 Remember your leaders, who spoke God’s message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith.
13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!
13:9 Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings. For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals, which have never benefited those who participated in them.
13:10 We have an altar that those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat from.
13:11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp.
13:12 Therefore, to sanctify the people by his own blood, Jesus also suffered outside the camp.
13:13 We must go out to him, then, outside the camp, bearing the abuse he experienced.
13:14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
13:15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name.
13:16 And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.
13:18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to conduct ourselves rightly in every respect. 13:19 I especially ask you to pray that I may be restored to you very soon.
Benediction and Conclusion
13:20 Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, 13:21 equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
13:22 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, bear with my message of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you briefly. 13:23 You should know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon, he will be with me when I see you.
13:24 Greetings to all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings. 13:25 Grace be with you all.
Lord, it is reassuring to know that You are the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. May I walk in faith with Your strength and wisdom, a willing instrument, and absolutely surrendered.
Hebrews 13 begins with a list of instructions:
“Brotherly love must continue.”
“Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
“Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them ...”
“Remember ... those ill-treated as though you too felt their torment.”
“Marriage must be honored among all ...”
“... the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers.”
“Your conduct must be free of the love of money and you must be content with what you have ...”
“Remember your leaders who spoke God’s message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith.”
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever! Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings.”
The text reminds us that rituals “... have never benefited those who participated in them.”
“... Jesus ... suffered outside the camp.”
[Note: According to the ancient OT regulations one was put out of the camp if ritually unclean, and if they were traveling and did not return in time to be ritually prepared they were required to wait outside and miss the cleansing rituals. Jesus was outside of the traditions of the religious leaders.]
“... do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for god is pleased with such sacrifices.”
“Obey your [Biblical] leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.”
As was common to the NT books Hebrews concludef with a prayer/benediction “Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, equip you with every good thing to do His will, working in us [or working together with us or working in all of us] what is pleasing before Him through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever. Amen.”
A sort of postscript asks that they “... bear with my message of exhortation” as it was somewhat more terse than the author desired. It also notes the release of Timothy and sends greetings from “Those in Italy ... to all your leaders and all the saints.” Finally concluding “Grace be with you all.”
The list of instructions at the beginning of Chapter 13 is challenging but is critical to civilization, especially a God-honoring one.
What are some practical examples of “... do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.”
How does “Obey your [Biblical] leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.” show up in the relationship of members and elders/deacons with the shepherd of your fellowship?
What is an example of “strange teachings” as referenced in this phrase “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever! Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings.”?
Ask the Holy Spirit to assess where you need to make changes to get right with the Word of God
Today I am committing to the list of instructions at the beginning of Chapter 13. I agree to partner with the Holy Spirit I will ask at least one other believer to pray in agreement and to assist with accountability so that I meet the goals I set for greater spiritual maturity.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – Section 2 of 2 the series, “Hebrews” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in April of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Salutation
1:1 From James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings!
Joy in Trials
1:2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
1:4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.
1:5 But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.
1:6 But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind.
1:7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, 1:8 since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.
1:9 Now the believer of humble means should take pride in his high position.
1:10 But the rich person’s pride should be in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow.
1:11 For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.
1:12 Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him.
1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.
1:14 But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires.
1:15 Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.
1:16 Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters.
1:17 All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.
1:18 By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Lord, Your wisdom is perfect, and You desire that we share in it. May I ask without doubt and trust Your guidance.
The words of James 1:2 may have echoed in the minds as his readers as they recalled the report, from 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, of the suffering endured by the Apostle Paul:
“... in far more imprisonments,
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“... beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“Three times I was beaten with rods,
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“... once I was stoned,
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“... three times I was shipwrecked,
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“ a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches.
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
James reminded his readers to follow the example of Solomon, where wisdom is needed, ask the Holy Spirit for more.
James insisted that our requests of God be “without doubting” because “... one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed about by the wind ... that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is an double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.”
While God is not tempted we are. We must not let our good fortunes in this world cause us to imagine that we cannot be tempted. We must see tests as an opportunity to mature by resisting through the strength of the Holy Spirit within.
Be bold in the declaration of God:
“Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:24-33).
Look forward to an opportunity to testify to Jesus and your hope in Him:
“And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:14b-15)
Be careful that your suffering is due to your faithfulness, or at least not due to your sin:
“... and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:16)
James’ teaching defined what was found in Paul’s writings in 2 Corinthians.
What are some practical ways to be more-bold in the declaration of the Lord God?
James insistence was that our requests of the Lord God be “without doubting” because “... one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed about by the wind ... a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.”
What is an example from your experience of following Solomon; when wisdom was needed and you asked the Holy Spirit for more? Did He give it only to you directly or did He provide one or more others to walk with you in discerning the guidance of His wisdom?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you have been doubting the Lord God, asking Him to provide what you need to walk a more mature walk and/or to have the wisdom that you need, but not really trusting and therefore not allowing Him to do so.
Today I am choosing to confess my double-mindedness to a fellow believer and I will ask them to pray with me to break free of that place of stuckness.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Living Out the Message
1:19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.
1:20 For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.
1:21 So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.
1:22 But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.
1:23 For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror.
1:24 For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was.
1:25 But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out – he will be blessed in what he does.
1:26 If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.
1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Lord, You have given us so much and You ask that we honor Your gifts in the way that we live. May I become a more valuable instrument of your saving grace and discipling love as I press-away the things of the world and replace them with a heart inclined toward You.
“By His sovereign plan ...”
{Note: God is in control.]
“... he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”
[Note: The Lord God provides for a new birth, in Christ, cleansed us of our sins. When He views us through Jesus the Christ we are returned to pre-Fall purity and post-Cross righteousness.]
“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.”
[Note: Paul taught us to “pray without ceasing” because in so doing we have to slow down before we react to circumstances and take the time to consult the Lord God through His indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus warned that the tongue is tough to control. Jesus also taught that there is “righteous anger” but that one must not “sin in their anger”.]
“... put away all filth and evil excess”
[Note: We cannot do this of our own strength but only through the Holy Spirit.
“... humbly welcome the message planted within you.”
[Note: The Bible teaches that the Lord God will “write His message on the heart” of the faithful.]
“... be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it ... be blessed”
[Note: “The Word of God does not return void”, without impact, when it is received by a willing heart.]
“If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.
[Note: We each make choices to obey or to rebel, the one who does not choose to allow the Holy Spirit to control their tongue, has made a choice to rebel. The Lord God’s consistent message is that He blesses obedience and not disobedience.]
“Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this:”
[Note: We live before an audience of only one being Who really matters, that is the Lord God alone; we must focus on pleasing Him above all others.]
“... to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune”
[Note: “A father to the fatherless, a husband to the widow.]
“... to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
[Note: If we recite the Lord’s Prayer with intentional meaning then we cannot say “Lead us not into testing or temptation” if we deliberately remain in situations where we know that we are vulnerable.]
Paul taught us to “pray without ceasing” because in so doing we have to slow down before we react to circumstances and consult God through His indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus warned that the tongue is tough to control. Jesus also taught that there is “righteous anger” but that one must not “sin in their anger”.
What are some practical ways to “... put away all filth and evil excess” and “... to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune”?
One cannot “... keep oneself unstained by the world if one deliberately remains in situations where one knows they are vulnerable.
When have you observed an example from your life “... humbly welcome the message planted within you.”? How has the Lord God’s message brought comfort and wisdom and you have shared that with others - giving Him all of the glory?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where you fail to “pray without ceasing”
Today I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me to slow down before I react to circumstances and consult Him. I agree to partner with the Holy Spirit for wisdom and power, and with a fellow believer for accountability, as I walk through the process of transformation in my life.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Prejudice and the Law of Love
2:1 My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.
2:2 For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes,
2:3 do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”?
2:4 If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?
2:5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
2:6 But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts? 2:7 Do they not blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to?
2:8 But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
2:9 But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators.
2:10 For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
2:11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law.
2:12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom.
2:13 For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.
Lord, You patiently-loved and sacrificially-saved us when were could bring to You nothing of value. May I remember that I am nothing but what the Lord God pours through me into others.
Paul clearly identifies his audience as those who “possess faith in our Lord Jesus Christ”; This is a message for believers.
Then he challenges them (us) to consider how they (we) treat a person of unknown faith, when the person enters our place of worship, looking only at their appearance “if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes”.
He then gets more specific “do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”?”
And finally he questions their heart-condition: “If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?”
In 1 Timothy 5:21 the apostle Paul challenges Timothy, and every leader “Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind.”
A leader must never be chosen based on his worldly success but only for his spiritual maturity and the observed calling and gifting of the Holy Spirit for ministry.
A leader must never make decisions about care-giving, fellowship, outreach, or participation based on worldly priorities but only the priorities modeled by Jesus and taught in the Word of God.
Jesus and Paul, and here James, address the frequent divide between the rich and the poor, a divide that far too often includes one of shallow versus true faith.
[Note: Remember the Story of the Rich Man from Mark 10:17-31]
Have we not all observed that the distractions of money, the pursuit of money, and the way that money may insulate us from many of the challenges of life - sometimes leads us also to a sense that we don’t need the Lord God?
It can be a subtle drift ... it is not as though we suddenly say “OK, I am comfortable with my income-to-debt ratio, so Hey God - you can take a break - I’ll handle it from here.”
It happens in small increments, we start skipping our times of personal Bible study and the extra activities at church (the gathering of believers) - unless, of course, we need to be there to network there for our business.
Then we start making excuses for missing our small group study. After that we miss more and more Sunday morning times of worship, and eventually we have all-but placed God and His people into a picture frame on the wall next to our certificate of club membership and our 3 year old award for public service.
Jesus, God in human flesh, chose to arrive at Christmas - born to a poor family. He said “Foxes have dens, and the birds in the sky 1 have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” And He died with nothing of the world in His possession.
While Jesus dined with poor and rich alike, healed poor and rich alike, and welcomed poor and rich alike - one cannot help but observe that He appeared to invest most of His time and energy among the poor and what we’d call the middle-class today - finding little welcome and less response among the rich.
“Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?”
James is not saying that God prefers the poor over the rich, he has said elsewhere that He “Is no respecter of persons”, meaning that one’s standing in the opinion of man has no bearing on God’s opinion of you - God seeks a heart-relationship with anyone, rich or poor.
What James is saying is that the rich in his day were obsessed with maintaining their sinful lifestyles and the teaching of Christ made them uncomfortable.
James reminds his readers that, because of their fear of the teaching of Jesus that God loves the poor and the rich equally, they (the rich) “blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to”.
I have observed that working men are unlikely to be surprised by, or to disagree with, the Biblical teaching that people are not naturally good - but are instead naturally drawn toward selfishness and sin.
I have also observed that the rich, or those otherwise isolated from the daily challenges of the working world, tend to think of people as essentially good.
It is generally the case that the rich are less likely to sense a need for God because they are more insulated from the daily struggle for food and clothing and shelter - and the rich tend to have the discretionary time to reflect upon alternative human explanations of the origins and value of man.
We honor those in need with our love and resources because they are loved by God, they are less likely to disrespect God, and because Jesus said so!
“2:8 But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 2:9 But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators. 2:10 For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 2:11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law. 2:12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom. 2:13 For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Jesus commanded that His followers “love your neighbor as yourself” then James explains that doing so will “fulfill the royal law” - and therefore “you are doing well” - we need to understand that there is a huge difference between trying to keep the letter of the Law and an act from the heart - in cooperation with the Holy Spirit.
James makes reference to the Law so we need to understand the New Testament teaching as to the purpose of the Law - it is to convict us of our distance from God.
It is important to note that the Law permits no failure - one must meet it perfectly in every detail or fail completely “For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law.”
Therefore James reminds his readers “But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators.” He also reminds us that if we are without mercy, a failure to reflect the heart of God, we have no cause to expect God to treat us with mercy.
I believe that it was Abraham Lincoln who wrote “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” Pointless-prejudice is just plain dumb! We all have “prejudices”, or perhaps it is safer to use the term “preferences”, but prejudice based on ignorance is destructive to communities and to our spiritual well-being. Racial prejudice is one of the dumbest of all - skin color tells one nothing about the heart or the mind.
James concludes “Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom. For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.”
The new “Law” of Jesus, for those who are saved, is grounded in mercy and not performance.
The person whom a healthy person treats with the greatest patience and respect, providing the most resources and time to - is oneself. Jesus wants us to share the same consideration and “slack” we give ourselves with others.
He is always most concerned with the condition of our hearts, endeavoring to transform our imperfect and selfish hearts into hearts overflowing with God’s love.
In our imperfection (without Jesus the Christ) we are imperfect and ugly in the eyes of the Lord God, so much so that were we to be in His presence, His perfection would destroy us. Yet He came to us and provided a way back for us, taking our ugliness upon Himself, so that our relationship with Him might be restored.
How little He asks that we show the same heart of mercy toward others.
The Lord God has tolerated humankind, and responded to with mercy, from shortly after the time of His creation - the Fall in the Garden of Eden- and throughout history until now so that we might be restored to right-relationship with Him for eternity. How do the distractions of money, the pursuit of money, and the way that money may insulate us from many of the challenges of life, lead us to a false sense that we don’t need God?
What are some practical ways that we might make the practice of mercy an integral and instinctive part of our lives? Also, some practical ways that we may avoid the subtle drift, the small increments, as we start skipping our times of personal Bible study and the extra activities at church (the gathering of believers)? Unless, of course, we need to be there to network for our business.
Working men and women are unlikely to be surprised by, or to disagree with, the Biblical teaching that people are not naturally good - but are instead naturally drawn toward selfishness and sin. Have you observed that the rich, or those otherwise isolated from the daily challenges of the working world, tend to think of people as essentially good?
What is an example of mercy received by you, despite the circumstances of life that must have been challenging the person or persons to not be merciful, but who chose to be merciful? Share also an example of a fellowship or other gathering (work, school, family, club, etc.) that was challenged by the unexpected arrival of someone who didn’t fit the social norm. How was it handled and what was the outcome? If not handled well, or the outcome was not good, how might it have been handled differently in light of James’ teaching?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a person (at fellowship, school, work, or elsewhere) whom you have judged prejudicially (without sufficient God-filtered information), even partly, based only on exterior appearance or a very shallow interaction.
Today I am choosing to pray for the one whom I have wronged, even if only in my mind and heart, and I will seek a Holy Spirit-guided opportunity to get to know them better.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Faith and Works Together
2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him?
2:15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, 2:16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it?
2:17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.
2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works.
2:19 You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.
2:20 But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless?
2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
2:22 You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works.
2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
2:24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
2:25 And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way?
2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Lord, You provided salvation through Jesus the Christ and You sent Your Holy Spirit to bind our salvation and to produce fruit through us. May my works be the fruit of the Holy Spirit and may it be to the glory and purpose of the Lord God.
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works?”
[Note: James revisits a question addressed by Paul from a different perspective, Paul reflected that although it would be better if he were present with the Lord, God had chosen to keep him here on earth so he had to presume that it was not without purpose, therefore he would give himself completely to God’s service.]
“Can this kind of faith save him.”
[Note: James is linking works (the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit) to a genuine saving faith. The absence of works means the absence of the Holy Spirit - thus the absence of a saving faith. He is not teaching works-righteousness for salvation, but rather that fruit/works is an inevitable product of salvation without which salvation is incomplete.]
James goes on to describe a right-application where one does not merely be verbally encouraging to a brother or sister in need but to actually make an effort to practically meet those needs.
“You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that -- and tremble with fear.”
[Note: In the specific local textual context one may take this to refer to the Lord God’s salvation being integrated with the obedient works of those to whom He grants salvation; however, one may also take it as a reference to the Trinity - since the Father told Abraham that his “... belief would be accounted to him as faith”, the Son provided our way to salvation, and the Holy Spirit is the “first down payment” on our salvation and is the One Who prompts us to live-out the fruits (works) of His indwelling presence.]
James recounted the story of Abraham and Issac and the altar to make the point that Abraham’s genuine belief was demonstrated through his obedient actions, he also cited Rahab, concluding “... a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
“For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
[Note: James reinforced the Biblical teaching that man is uniquely gifted by God with a spirit which makes a man or woman truly human and apart from all other life forms.
The common teaching of Paul and James it would be better if we were present with the Lord God; however, He has chosen to keep us here on earth so we must presume that is was not without purpose, therefore we must give ourselves completely to His service.
What are some practical ways to not merely be verbally-encouraging to a brother or sister in need but to actually make an effort to practically meet their needs?
The repeated emphasis of the Biblical text that our first priority must always be with brothers and sisters in-faith, rather than the unsaved, should be reflected in our personal and fellowship priorities. (How appealing can it be if we neglect “family” in favor of strangers? Who would want to become “family” under those circumstances?)
What is a practical example where you caught yourself speaking words of encouragement to a struggling brother and sister but failed to recognize that the Lord God had provided sufficient excess so that you could actually meet their immediate practical need? How did you respond to His prompting and what was the result?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the times in your life when you allow the challenges of daily living, or challenges from your past (which you should long-ago have neutralized through forgiveness, prayer, and as-necessary spiritual warfare), to cause you to question the Lord God’s purpose in your life.
Today I will prayerfully review what the Holy Spirit has made known to me and I will re-commit myself to His service and put aside any doubts as to why He has chosen to keep me here – no matter my worldly circumstances.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Power of the Tongue
3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly.
3:2 For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well.
3:3 And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies.
3:4 Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs.
3:5 So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze.
3:6 And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence – and is set on fire by hell.
3:7 For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind.
3:8 But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
3:9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image.
3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters.
3:11 A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it?
3:12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water.
True Wisdom
3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.
3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.
3:15 Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic.
3:16 For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.
3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.
3:18 And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.
Lord, You have warned that those who teach through their lives and their words are accountable the integrity of both, yet one who teaches as an authority is held to a higher standard of accuracy. May I prayerfully-consider every word as spoken before You and as honoring of the fruits of the Spirit given by You.
“Not many of you should become teachers ...”
[Note: One who accepts any role of authority in the transmission of the Lord God’s Word to those who will trust them must be aware that He defends His Word. Those who sit under ones teaching have a right to presume accountability and sound “scholarship” from their teacher - for they are expected to submit to that authority - and though they be “good Bereans” - checking the Word - they are vulnerable to subtle deception - via carelessness or intentional deceit. The Lord takes a dim view of those who mistreat His “children”!]
James notes that “... we all stumble in many ways” and that “... no human being can subdue the tongue”.
[Note: This is why James warns against becoming teachers because the care necessary to minimize error is extraordinary.]
James requires that those who claim to be “... wise and understanding” present evidence of “... good conduct” via “... good works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.”
James then contrasts false claims of wisdom, “... earthy, natural, demonic” with “wisdom from above”.
False:
“... bitter jealousy”
“...selfishness in your hearts”
“... disorder and every evil practice”
Genuine:
“... first pure”
“... peaceable”
“... gentle”
“... accommodating”
“... full of mercy”
“... full of ... good fruit”
“... impartial”
“... not hypocritical”
“And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.”
The desire of the Lord God is that all who teach be committed to the integrity of the Word of God, thus to protect His “sheep” from the harm of careless and/or false beliefs.
How might we better control the incredible power of the tongue to both condemn and praise other believers and to disrespect and to praise the Lord God?
In the contrasting lists of the fruits of false and genuine sources of wisdom; do you find any in your life which require attention to relocate from false to genuine?
When have you observed an example of the incredible power of the tongue to both condemn and praise other believers and to disrespect and to praise the Lord God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to identify at least one place in your life where you have been careless as a teacher, careless in your words, and/or careless as to the source of wisdom you have used.
Today I agree to partner with the Holy Spirit, with the prayerful accountability of a fellow believer, to get things right with the Lord God.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Passions and Pride
4:1 Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you?
4:2 You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask;
4:3 you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you can spend it on your passions.
4:4 Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy.
4:5 Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, “The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning”?
4:6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.”
4:7 So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.
4:8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded.
4:9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair.
4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.
4:11 Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. He who speaks against a fellow believer or judges a fellow believer speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but its judge.
4:12 But there is only one who is lawgiver and judge – the one who is able to save and destroy. On the other hand, who are you to judge your neighbor?
4:13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”
4:14 You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes.
4:15 You ought to say instead, “If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that.”
4:16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
4:17 So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin.
Lord, You provide the power and wisdom we need. May I mature enough to more-consistently submit to my Lord God and to resist the devil.
4:1 Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you?
James challenged his readers to look to the emotional-spiritual conflict between the “old man” (the persistent flesh with which we endure which still in the world), and the “new man” who is already seen through Christ as clothed in white and in a perfect Heaven - now trying to push away the sin of the world which seeks to stain him/her.
[Note: The latter is a paraphrase from Dr. Neil Anderson of Freedom in Christ ministries.]
4:2 You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask; 4:3 you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you can spend it on your passions.
As with King David in the Bathsheba tragedy, his son Solomon in his Ecclesiastes lament, and other Biblical characters they missed-out on blessings because of their disobedience.
4:4 Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy. 4:5 Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, “The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning”? 4:6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.”
James challenges his readers to make a choice, there is no middle ground, choose God or man, the world or the Kingdom.
4:7 So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.
James returned to spiritual warfare. Whether we choose to acknowledge it there is a spiritual war raging all around us and we are involved - we ignore it to our peril - we remain defenseless unless we assert our legitimate spiritual authority as children of God.
4:8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded. 4:9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair. 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.
God wants us to choose to partner with Him and He longs to bless us for ministry. This means that we will have to grieve and mourn and weep for the loss of filling our fleshy passions. It also means that our temporary laughter and happiness due to the filling of our fleshy passions will be gone. [Note” The term “joy” may be a confusing choice here given the tendency for it to refer to things uniquely-Heavenly elsewhere.]
4:11 Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. He who speaks against a fellow believer or judges a fellow believer speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but its judge. 4:12 But there is only one who is lawgiver and judge – the one who is able to save and destroy. On the other hand, who are you to judge your neighbor?
The purpose of the Law was to convict people of their sin, to convince them of their inability to earn salvation through works, and to drive them to humility before Christ. God alone may know and judge the heart (spiritual essence) of a person and to thus know the integrity of their faith-for-salvation.
4:13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” 4:14 You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes. 4:15 You ought to say instead, “If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that.”
In the parable of the man who tore down his silos to build larger ones Jesus declared that he may die in the night and have no heirs and no eternal hope - James reflects upon the same principle - we must attend to the priorities of God and live in the moment without presuming upon the future. Serve God right now!
4:16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 4:17 So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin.
The Lord God wants us to make a choice, there is no middle ground, choose God or man, the world or the Kingdom.
What are some practical ways to recognize the spiritual war raging all around us and how me may assert our legitimate spiritual authority as children of our Lord God?
The principle is that we must attend to the priorities of the Lord God and live in the moment without presuming upon the future. Serve the Lord right now!
When have you experienced an example of the battle in your life between the temptations of the “old man” and the appeal to righteous living of the “new man”? [Note: If you are not experiencing this “battle” then you may need to revisit your salvation - unless you are claiming a perfect righteousness prior to Heaven!]
Ask the Holy Spirit to examine your relationship with the Lord God and reveal to you at least one area where the Lord God is prompting you to mature and to partner with the Holy Spirit to intentionally move toward greater maturity.
Today I will surrender to the answer to the questions: Am I serving Him right now or am I still procrastinating in favor of worldly priorities? Am I winning the battle for the “new man” or am I too-often surrendering to the temptations of the “old man”? Do I understand spiritual warfare or do I need to find some Biblically-trustworthy discipleship in that area? Do I know what I should do in the area of spiritual warfare but am hesitating like David’s brothers in the face of a Goliath-like giant of a challenge from the enemy in my life?
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Warning to the Rich
5:1 Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you.
5:2 Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten.
5:3 Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure!
5:4 Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
5:5 You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
5:6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person, although he does not resist you.
Patience in Suffering
5:7 So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains.
5:8 You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s return is near.
5:9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be judged. See, the judge stands before the gates!
5:10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name.
5:11 Think of how we regard as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and you have seen the Lord’s purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
5:12 And above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath. But let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no, so that you may not fall into judgment.
Prayer for the Sick
5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praises.
5:14 Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
5:15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up – and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
5:16 So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.
5:17 Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and there was no rain on the land for three years and six months!
5:18 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land sprouted with a harvest.
5:19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back,
5:20 he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from his wandering path will save that person’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Lord, You ask us to pray for ourselves and for others, both in need and in thankful praise. May I pray with a right-heart so that my prayers will be unencumbered by sinful desires or carelessness.
James issued a prophesy to the “rich” whom he chastised for hoarding the last days. He told them that all that they have hoarded was ill-gotten and worthless.
He noted that their ill-gotten gains came from withholding what was due their workers and that the Lord God had heard their cries. They had also mistreated righteous people - thus bringing the Lord’s condemnation upon themselves.
[Note: Nowhere in the Bible does the Lord God condemn success or wealth, He only condemns the unjust treatment of workers, the neglect of the welfare of brothers and sisters in Christ when resources would allow one to assist them, and the obsession with wealth that brings arrogance, pride, and selfishness - drawing one away from the Lord and into the values of the world.]
James encouraged the believers to “... be patient and strengthen your hearts”, to avoid grumbling “... against one another” as the Lord God was watching. He encouraged them to look to the prophets for examples of how one might endure with righteousness.
He reminded them of the prohibition against “swearing” on someone or something in order to assert their integrity and to instead be known as people whose “Yes be yes and their No be no.” as a consistent testimony to their integrity.
James then presented a series of instructions for a solid prayer life:
“Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray.”
[Note: The first responsibility for prayer is upon the one who is suffering. Others pray in- agreement with the one in need.]
“Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praises.”
[Note: If we pray when we have needs we should also celebrate when the Lord blesses us.]
“Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith of the one who is sick will raise him up - and even if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
[Note: James emphasizes “... the prayer of faith”, returning to the admonition that we not be double-minded. Also, note James calls for the spiritual leaders of the fellowship to pray in agreement.]
“So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.”
[Note: James is reinforcing the teaching that we need to be accountable to one-another. When we come-clean within the fellowship we keep things transparent and healthy; part of the healing is a result of the Lord God’s direct intervention and part is through the relationships that are strengthened as well as the enriching experience of shared-concern raised in prayer. He is also noting the power of being righteous, in contrast to a double-minded person, when one comes before the Lord in prayer. This is not about certain people in a fellowship being “righteous” and therefore having “magical” prayer-power but that all who pray do so with respect for the One to whom they pray.]
James used Elijah as an example, noting that he was as human as anyone, but that his righteous prayer led to the Lord God stopping and then restarting the rains.
He concluded with a directive that we care for one another by “... turning back” a brother or sister who has drifted away “... from the truth”.
[Note: We are our “brother’s keeper”. We are to watch over others and allow, even encourage, them to watch over us. We no more want to be deceived into drifting away from the truth than we want to see them do so. When we are transparent and mutually-accountable we are stronger.]
James’ exhortation that our “yes be yes and our no be no” was so that our integrity is etched into all that we think, say, and do - leading others to trust us and to want to know about the One Who empowers our integrity.
Have you experienced or observed James’ teaching “... be patient and strengthen your hearts”, avoid grumbling “... against one another” as God is watching, and his encouragement for them to look to the prophets for examples of how one might endure with righteousness lived-out?
The Lord God’s condemnation of the unjust treatment of workers, the neglect of the welfare of brothers and sisters in Christ when resources would allow one to assist them, and the obsession with wealth that brings arrogance, pride, and selfishness - draws one away from Him and into the values of the world.
When have you observed an example of the practical implementation of James’ series of instructions for a solid prayer life. How did the Lord God answer such prayers?
Ask the Holy Spirit to compare and contrast your prayer life with James’ instructions.
Today I am committing to step-up when I fall short and I agree to partner with the Holy Spirit, and at least one fellow believer, to intentionally transform my prayer life.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – “James” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in April of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Salutation
1:1 From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those temporarily residing abroad (in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia) who are chosen
1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by being set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for sprinkling with Jesus Christ’s blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure!
New Birth to Joy and Holiness
1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1:4 that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you,
1:5 who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1:6 This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials.
1:7 Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away – and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1:8 You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
1:9 because you are attaining the goal of your faith – the salvation of your souls.
1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who predicted the grace that would come to you searched and investigated carefully.
1:11 They probed into what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and his subsequent glory.
1:12 They were shown that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things now announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things angels long to catch a glimpse of.
1:13 Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1:14 Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance,
1:15 but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct,
1:16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.”
1:17 And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence.
1:18 You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed – not by perishable things like silver or gold,
1:19 but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ.
1:20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake.
1:21 Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
1:22 You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart.
1:23 You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.
1:24 For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off,
1:25 but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.
2:1 So get rid of all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
2:2 And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,
2:3 if you have experienced the Lord’s kindness.
Lord, You made Heaven possible for us through the holiness of the One Who died and rose and ascended for us, and Who will return for us. May I seek-after the holiness that He modeled so as to honor His great sacrifice and wonderful gift.
Peter began by addressing the immediate intended recipients as “.... those temporarily residing abroad (in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia)”. as well as noting that his audience is believers. He also included a benediction “May grace and peace be yours in full measure!”
1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1:4 that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, 1:5 who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
[Note: Peter reaffirmed the assurance of our salvation. Once truly saved one is eternally saved.]
1:6a This brings you great joy,
[Note: This is not the same thing as “happiness” which depends upon momentary earthly circumstances but is a more soul-level spiritually-discerned joy, certain of our salvation to an eternity in perfection with God’s family.]
1:6b ... although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. 1:7 Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away – and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
[Note: The Lord God, through Peter, again used an illustration which would be familiar, readily comprehended, and powerful among his audience.]
1:8 You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 1:9 because you are attaining the goal of your faith – the salvation of your souls.
[Note: Faith is ultimately a soul-level trust in the unseen, perhaps even the un-seeable; while some “believed” as a result of meeting Jesus and observing His miracles, others did not, the difference occurred at a soul-level rather than merely in their emotions and intellects. Peter also affirmed the singularity of the relationship between faith and salvation.]
1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who predicted the grace that would come to you searched and investigated carefully. 1:11 They probed into what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and his subsequent glory. 1:12 They were shown that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things now announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things angels long to catch a glimpse of.
[Note: We are to recognize the Lord God’s consistent message and His reliability; He said through His prophets that Jesus the Christ - The Messiah - would come and He made it so.]
1:13 Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
[Note: This is not about being free of alcohol or other toxic substances, though it surely includes that, but instead refers to clear thinking and to an actively-reflective mind-set in pursuit of truth - or rephrased - poised to recognize and to accept it. It also is intended to ward-off the efforts of the Judaisers to re-impose legalism and works.]
1:14 Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, 1:15 but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, 1:16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.” 1:17 And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence.
[Note: Peter exhorted his readers to step-up to their new identity in-Christ. He also reminded them that they have a new “home address” in Heaven and they are now only visitors here - transforming their perspective.]
1:18a You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors
[Note: Peter recollected Ecclesiastes and other NT teachings re. the futility of a life of works and a life in the world.]
1:18 but you were ransomed – not by perishable things like silver or gold, 1:19 but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ. 1:20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake. 1:21 Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
[Note: Peter re-affirmed the deity of Christ as a member of the eternal Trinity, that He “... was manifested in these last times” - Jesus came at CHRISTmas to fulfill His promise to provide a pathway to redemption, and that He would suffer-die-be resurrected in the Easter season, and therefore “... your faith and hope in God” is legitimate.]
1:22 You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart. 1:23 You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.
[Note: The “soul” of a human is guaranteed purification at the gates of Heaven; however, one is expected to engage the process of purification while on earth. Peter re-affirmed our “born-again” status and the assurance of our salvation.]
1:24 For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off,
[Note: Peter reminded his readers of the temporary nature of our earthly existence.]
1:25 but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.
2:1 So get rid of all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2:2 And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation, 2:3 if you have experienced the Lord’s kindness.
[Note: “... if you have experienced the Lord’s kindness” refers to the efforts of God through believers and other interventions in your life to present the gospel and to issue an invitation to choose salvation. It is, according to the NET translator’s notes, in part quoting Psalms 34:8 which paints a word picture of God as like tasty food to the soul. Peter revisited Paul’s exhortation for believers to intentionally pursue maturity.]
Peter's exhortation was that we step-up to our identity in-Christ and that since we have a new "home address" in Heaven and are now only visitors here - our perspective must be transformed.
What are some practical ways to engage the process of purification while on earth?
Peter's rephrased the essentials of the Gospel message, with the reminder that because of Who Jesus is we therefore are who we are due to our intimate relationship with Him, thus we have cause to be confident.
What is an example from your experience of a modern illustration, similar to the purification of gold in the fire, which would accurately illustrate the soul-purifying value of worldly troubles rightly-handled by a Biblical-Christian?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one area of your life where He has been prompting you to take a step toward greater soul-purity.
Today I am choosing to partner with the Holy Spirit as He leads me toward greater-holiness. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement and to also serve as my encourager and accountability partner.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
A Living Stone, a Chosen People
2:4 So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and priceless in God’s sight,
2:5 you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
2:6 For it says in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame.”
2:7 So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,
2:8 and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
2:10 You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.
2:11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,
2:12 and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.
Submission to Authorities
2:13 Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme
2:14 or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good.
2:15 For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.
2:16 Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves.
2:17 Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.
2:18 Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse.
2:19 For this finds God’s favor, if because of conscience toward God someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly.
2:20 For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.
2:21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.
2:22 He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth.
2:23 When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly.
2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed.
2:25 For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
Lord, You sacrificed Yourself through Jesus to redeem Your creation, and Your expectation is that we will live with our eyes on You rather than the world. May I continue to surrender more and more of myself so that You may pour Yourself out through me.
"2:4 So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and priceless in God’s sight, "
This is a quote from Psa 118:22 "The stone which the builders discarded has become the cornerstone." and is an echo of Acts 4:11 "This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone."
"2:5 you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
[Note: Peter drew a parallel between the role of Jesus as the "cornerstone" of His eternal "spiritual house", made up of believers, and every believer who now becomes a part of the complete "spiritual house".]
"2:6 For it says in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame.” " A quote from Isaiah 28:16.
[Note: Peter drew the reader's attention to the sovereign salvation power of Christ, choosing the term "never" when qualifying "be put to shame".]
"2:7 So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, 2:8 and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do."
[Note: Peter brought his readers back to the purpose of the OT Law, it challenged and convicted those who were bent upon rebellion, and now Jesus becomes the fulfillment of the law and his offer of salvation becomes the new stumbling block for the rebellious."]
"2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 2:10 You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy."
[Note: This fascinating text really should be read beginning at 2:10a "You once were not a people ...", meaning that the new covenant to the new "Church which is the body of believers is a unique family or "people". When one then reads the words Peter applied to them, words that had previously been reserved for the Hebrew nation/the Jewish people. one discovers that Peter was redefining from the OT meanings to new NT meanings when using these terms.]
"2:11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul, 2:12 and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears."
[Note: We need to defend ourselves against the sin of the world since we are now eternal residents of Heaven and mere "foreigners and exiles" here. The testimony of our daily walk is considered worthy of special attention by Peter as the truth of Jesus is being judged by its impact upon us.]
"2:13 Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme 2:14 or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good. 2:15 For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good."
[Note: Continuing his theme of a positive witness Peter exhorted believers to be good citizens. It is, however, never acceptable for a believer to condone, encourage, facilitate, or participate in a sin against the Lord God for the sake of being "subject to every human institution". God's calling is always superior to any other.]
"2:16 Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves."
[Note: Believers are freed from slavery to sin - as defined by the law - and to the valueless priorities of the world. As we enjoy the freedom of grace we must remember that we owe honor in all that we do to our self-selected Master, the Lord God.]
"2:17 Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king."
[Note: Peter reaffirmed the teaching of Christ that we "Honor all people", not in the secular sense of fake or ritual honor but in treating them with respect, regardless of worldly standing. He also reaffirmed the importance of believers loving one another. Peter reiterated the Lord God's standing as the first and most important authority. And finally he affirmed the consistent teaching that believers, like all humans, need a government system to maintain civilization - so without sinning against God we must "honor the king" - giving respect to authority which God has permitted to exist.]
"2:18 Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse. 2:19 For this finds God’s favor, if because of conscience toward God someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly. 2:20 For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God."
[Note: This is another of the sections of text which need to be read out of order to best be understood. The key is that if a “slave” was mistreated it must be because of their faithfulness to the Lord God and not because of their laziness or rebellion.]
"2:21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps. 2:22 He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth. 2:23 When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly. 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed."
[Note: Peter continued on his theme, that we are to live honorably in the world and when abused for our faith to continue to live honorably, not reacting as the world would react, and not selling-out our faith for comfort.]
"2:25 For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls." A quote from Isaiah 53:6
[Note: This referred to all people, those who were astray and thus condemned by the law, then as believers returning to the only One Who could keep them safe - or more precisely their souls safe - for eternity.]
The emphasis that Peter placed on the rebellious as equally offended/convicted by the requirements of the law and now of Jesus. Choosing sin in rebellion against the Lordship of Christ is the same as choosing sin in rebellion against the OT law.
What are some practical ways to that we may be a positive witness for Christ as good citizens yet not dishonor or disobey Christ by condoning, encouraging, facilitating, or participating in a sin against God for the sake of being "subject to every human institution"?
The probability is that the more we live openly as Christians, even when acting honorably, we will come under attack; therefore, we need to be prepared to bear-up.
What is an example from your life when you have chosen to "Honor all people", not in the secular sense of fake or ritual honor but in treating them with respect, regardless of worldly standing?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your walk where you have misunderstood your obligations to be a good witness to Him, perhaps by failing to honor certain people, by failing to love the family of believers, or by failing to honor the non-sinful expectations of a legitimate authority.
Today I will acknowledge my error and will ask a fellow believer to be my accountability and prayer-partner as I mature toward a more-right standing with the teaching of the Word of the Lord God.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Wives and Husbands
3:1 In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then, even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live, 3:2 when they see your pure and reverent conduct.
3:3 Let your beauty not be external – the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes – 3:4 but the inner person of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
3:5 For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands, 3:6 like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so.
3:7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.
Suffering for Doing Good
3:8 Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble.
3:9 Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.
3:10 For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.
3:11 And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.
3:13 For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good?
3:14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken.
3:15 But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.
3:16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.
3:17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.
3:18 Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit.
3:19 In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison,
3:20 after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water.
3:21 And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you – not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
3:22 who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.
Lord, You ask that we be ready to tell our story of Your rescue of us, and to keep “a good conscience”. May I avoid that which may compromise Your story in my life and seek the fruits of the Holy Spirit so that Your presence in me will be appealing.
"3:1 In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then, even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live, 3:2 when they see your pure and reverent conduct."
[Note: Peter did not say that the believing wife is to engage in sinful conduct, he is clear that hers must be "pure and reverent conduct", the only one in the relationship who may "disobedient" in his instruction is the husband – one who needs to be "won over to the Word." It is worth prayerful-contemplation for perspective that the Word teaches that a believer is not to spend a great deal of time among unbelievers as they will be badly-influenced, and also that a spouse is not to force their unbelieving spouse to remain if they choose to leave.]
"3:3 Let your beauty not be external – the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes – 3:4 but the inner person of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight."
[Note: Peter was not forbidding "... the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes", he was teaching that believing women should not imagine external appearance to be their true beauty.]
"3:5 For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands, 3:6 like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so."
[Note: It was obvious in the OT that the wives of Abraham and Isaac were beautiful as they were the object of the affections of kings in lands through which they traveled such that they were kidnapped. While this is not definitive as to their hair styles, jewelry, or fashion, such have always been part of the initial attraction to men (and the OT-context was often an attraction from a distance, not the result of conversation or close observation). The key here is that the believing wife treat her husband with honor - which would include not being obsessed about her external appearance nor presenting herself before other men in a provocative manner - such is reserved only for her husband.]
"3:7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers."
[Note: Believing husbands are to treat their wives, believing wives or not, with honor - if they want the Lord God to honor their prayers. With the rare exception of the OT judge Deborah the males were responsible for leadership and the conduct of warfare, therefore held superior roles of power and would have tended to be physiologically more powerful as well. It is helpful to recall that Christians are called to be "meek", a term which meant power under control; more precisely, power under the control of God.]
"3:8 Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. 3:9 Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing. 3:10 For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit."
"3:11a And he must turn away from evil and do good;"
"3:11b ... he must seek peace and pursue it."
"3:12a For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer."
"3:12b But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil."
"3:13 For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good?"
[Note: This was a rhetorical statement which intent was to refer to the Lord God, rather than evil men who will harm Christians and non-Christians alike, regardless of their faith; sometimes merely because they can and for no other reason.]
"3:14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken."
[Note: "Terror" and "shaken" generally refer to a faith-level fear as relates to ones eternal circumstances - so Peter warned believers to not be terrified of those who cause them "to suffer for doing what is right" because that only affirmed that they were "blessed" with assured salvation.]
"3:15 But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. 3:16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you."
[Note: There are several elements to observe here:
"...set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts" - This is an intentional submission.
"... always be ready to give an answer" for "... the hope you possess" - Know your testimony.
"... to anyone who asks" - Don't force the conversation, wait for the Holy Spirit to prepare and prompt them. There is no point in a testimony to one whose "ears" are closed.
"... do it with courtesy and respect" - Your story is yours, it should not include attacks or pejoratives about others, and it should not be designed to manipulate others. Leave the heart-level work to the Holy Spirit of God whose motivations are pure. This does not mean that your testimony may not be passionate - it should be.
"... keeping a good conscience" - Generally speaking your hypocrisy will neutralize your otherwise good testimony.
"... so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ" - They will not be slandering your hypocrisy, that testifies for itself, the meaning of slander is falsehoods about what you do to honor Christ which serves as a "stumbling block" to those who are in rebellion.
"... may be put to shame when they accuse you." - If your testimony for good conduct is not neutralized by hypocrisy then when you are attacked most who observe the attack will recognize that the accuser is in the wrong.
"3:17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil."
[Note: Sometimes the Lord God allows us to function in the role of martyr, suffering before a watching people, falsely accused and mistreated. Not only is the one who attacks seen as doing wrong but your right-response to the false treatment will create an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to bring the gospel to the lost.]
"3:18a Because Christ also suffered once for sins,"
[Note: Our role model is Christ.]
"3:18b ... the just for the unjust,"
[Note: He had no sin, thus He was clearly unjustly mistreated, yet He was used more powerfully to the benefit of others that any martyr in history.]
"3:18c ... to bring you to God,"
[Note: He did so for the same reason, but in our cases to a lesser degree, that He now asks us to bear suffering.]
"3:18d ... by being put to death in the flesh"
[Note: Some of our suffering will separate us from things of the flesh that we value but which are either impediments to our well-being or are necessary sacrifices for the greater good of others though our testimony in our suffering.]
"3:18e ... but by being made alive in the spirit."
[Note: Just as Jesus was "... made alive in the Spirit" as a result of the death of His flesh in the world, so are we “... being made alive in the spirit" when our flesh is sacrificed for the cause of Christ.]
"3:19 In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison,
[Note: While Jesus was dead in the flesh, yet alive in the Spirit, He preached to a subset of the dead - see following for a further discussion.]
3:20a after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. "
[Note: Two alternative understandings are greatly debated; I am more comfortable with the NET translator's preference for the reading that Jesus brought the Gospel to those who were in Hell due to their pre-Noadic sin, and who died in it, rather than the suggestion that Peter intended that Jesus preached to the unredeemable fallen angels, since such would appear to be unproductive gloating.
There is a powerful debate about the specifics of this text within the scholarly community of Bible students that swirls around the recitation of the Apostles Creed.
In the 16th century "hell" meant hades as such, rather than the final state of the lost....as it generally is used today. We also have the varying understanding of the impact of linear time and timelessness as well as the "hades" construct that these are "asleep" prior to the judgment.
If one insists upon a timeline of immediate judgment at the moment of death then one still must allow that this is a pre-judgment preaching of Jesus to those who are "on hold" in hades prior to the Great White Throne Judgment.
This, of course, begs the question "Is there any other example of Jesus preaching to those "who are asleep" as a post-physical death/pre-judgment form of evangelism or is this an historically-exclusive event with a unique purpose?
Or does one take Peter's text as purely rhetorical and not at all intended to be literal?
This text, not carefully considered (which tends to be beyond the scope of our current survey-type studies), does create an opportunity for theological mischief in the form of a "third reality of consciousness" between the flesh and eternity - purgatory.]
"3:20b In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water. 3:21 And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you – not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 3:22 who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him."
[Note: The saving "baptism" of Jesus is the result of ".. the pledge of a good conscience to God" and nothing related to the physical water. This is a valuable illustration as one notes the linkage to Noah and the other eight, who never even touched the water, nor were they below the waters - what we know as Biblical baptism is a purely symbolic act.]
The persistent theme of Peter throughout these verses is the importance of our "good conduct"; the testimony of our faith which is viewed by the world through our daily walk.
What are some practical ways to always have a ready testimony? Also, if married, discuss some practical ways to honor your spouse.
The Lord God's expectation is that we be prepared to handle suffering for our faith and that we trust Him to redeem good from what the enemy intends for evil.
What is an example of your testimony, or that of someone you know personally, where their response to suffering has been used by God to lead others to salvation or a believer to greater maturity?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone whom He has prepared and prompted to ask you to share it for His purpose in their life.
Today I am choosing to review my testimony, do I have one that is brief and clear, courteous and respectful to the listener? I will share my testimony with a fellow believer and ask them to prayerfully reflect with me how it may be heard by a not-yet-saved person. If there is anything about it that may be improved to make it a more useful tool for the Lord, especially anything that draws more attention to me than to the Lord, I will humbly modify it.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
4:1 So, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin, 4:2 in that he spends the rest of his time on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires.
4:3 For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to do what the non-Christians desire. You lived then in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking bouts, and wanton idolatries.
4:4 So they are astonished when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you.
4:5 They will face a reckoning before Jesus Christ who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.
4:6 Now it was for this very purpose that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh by human standards they may live spiritually by God’s standards.
Service, Suffering, and Judgment
4:7 For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.
4:8 Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins. 4:9 Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
4:10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.
4:11 Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
4:12 Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you.
4:13 But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad.
4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you.
4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker.
4:16 But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name.
4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God?
4:18 And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and sinners? 4:19 So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good.
Leading and Living in God’s Flock
5:1 So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you:
5:2 Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
5:3 And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock.
5:4 Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.
5:5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
5:6 And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand 5:7 by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.
5:8 Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.
5:9 Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering.
5:10 And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 5:11 To him belongs the power forever. Amen.
Final Greetings
5:12 Through Silvanus, whom I know to be a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, in order to encourage you and testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. 5:13 The church in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you, and so does Mark, my son.
5:14 Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Lord, You in-Jesus led with grace and humility, and we are to model our lives after Him. May I mature in my relationship with You so that I am also grace-filled and humble as both a follower and a leader.
4:1 So, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin, 4:2 in that he spends the rest of his time on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires.
[Note: When one discovers that physical appearance and physical pleasure do not result in lasting happiness but joy in the Lord fills the heart endlessly, one experiences a transformation of perspective. Sometimes this comes through an emotional-intellectual-spiritual encounter with God and His Word through the Holy Spirit and sometimes we make it necessary for God to deprive us of appearance, health, and/or the resources to feed our narcissism.]
4:3 For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to do what the non-Christians desire. You lived then in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking bouts, and wanton idolatries.
[Note: "... the time that has past" is a phrase Peter used to draw a line in the life of the believer which clearly separates them from who they were versus who they have become in-Christ.]
4:4 So they are astonished when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you.
[Note: Those who knew you are peers-in-sin now find your sin-resistant spirit a stumbling block which triggers the condemnation of the Law within - so from their rebellious hearts they attack you instead of dealing with their sin.]
4:5 They will face a reckoning before Jesus Christ who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.
4:6 Now it was for this very purpose that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh by human standards they may live spiritually by God’s standards.
[Note: Some might speculate that Peter was returning to his prior point about Jesus preaching to the "dead" from the day of Noah, but it seems more likely that he was speaking of those who used to be dead in their sin but because of the gospel are now made alive eternally in Christ.]
4:7 For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.
4:8 Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.
4:9 Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
4:10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 4:11a Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words.
4:11b Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ.
4:11c To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
4:12 Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you.
[Note: Peter wanted his readers to avoid the confusion that comes from thinking that their circumstances are unique.]
4:13 But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad. 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you.
4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker.
[Note: We may never blame the Lord God for suffering that results from sinful rebellion, though we may turn away from that sin and ask the Lord to redeem something good from it, even as we accept the worldly consequences.]
4:16 But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name. 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God? 4:18 And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and sinners? 4:19 So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good.
[Note: Peter warned that the Lord God would judge those in the "... house of God" who continued in their sin, yet noted that if they were to be judged - while protected from eternal consequences by grace - what might those not so protected anticipate as their fate?]
5:1 So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you: 5:2 Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
[Note: Peter exhorted "elders" (spiritual leaders) to assure that the integrity of the teaching of the gospel, discipleship (including discipline), and care-giving to believers was maintained. They were to do so without drawing attention to themselves nor accepting more compensation - which would divert funds that might otherwise go to the care of the needy and/or to evangelism and discipleship - than necessary.]
5:3 And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. 5:4 Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.
[Note: Every leader is a peer "child of God" with every other believer. Arrogance and bullying is not acceptable. leaders are to lead-first from the example of their lives, embodying the "fruits of the Spirit.]
5:5a In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.
[Note: Just as elders/leaders are to be subject to the Holy Spirit those who are younger in spiritual maturity - regardless of chronological age - are to submit to those who are more spiritually mature.]
5.5b And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
[Note: Peter challenged everyone to live with humble spirits as the tendency of "the old man", the flesh in this world, is toward pride.]
5:6 And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand 5:7 by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.
[Note: Peter reminded his readers that ours is a loving God with all power - we trust everything to Him because He wants to bless us - and He is already aware of our needs. When we don't cast all our cares on God we come to either resent God or look to ourselves or to fellow humans for answers - guaranteed imperfect answers.]
5:8 Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.
[Note: Peter alerted his readers to the reality of spiritual warfare, a genuine evil enemy, and our need to be on our guard against him.]
5:9 Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering.
[Note: Peter reminded them that they had the authority to resist the enemy and were expected to do so. He did not suggest that none will suffer in the struggle, any more that any army is without injuries in a battle, but he affirmed that believers hold the superior hand in-Christ. He wanted his readers to remember that their struggles were in-common with other believers "throughout the world".]
5:10 And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 5:11 To him belongs the power forever. Amen.
[Note: The Lord God allows our suffering to mature us and to serve as a witness to our faith - then He steps in and demonstrates His loving power.]
5:14 Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
When one discovers that physical appearance and physical pleasure do not result in lasting happiness, but joy in the Lord fills the heart endlessly, one experiences a transformation of perspective. Sometimes this comes through an emotional-intellectual-spiritual encounter with the Lord God and His Word through the Holy Spirit and sometimes we make it necessary for Him to deprive us of appearance, health, and/or other resources that feed our narcissism.]
What are some practical ways to "... be self-controlled and sober-minded" (see verses 4:7-11a)
Peter's challenge to leaders is found in 5:1-3. Do you observe these characteristics in your leaders? Have you prayed for them? Have you thanked them for honoring the Word in this way?
What is a practical example of your submission to leaders who are faithful to God's expectations in the text of 5:1-3?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you ways that you need to shore-up your spiritual defenses.
Today I am choosing to "be sober and alert" to the enemy who "... is on the prowl looking for someone to devour" and to "resist him, strong in your faith". I will review the teaching of Paul re. "Putting on the full armor of God" and discover where I fall short.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Salutation
1:1 From Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, have been granted a faith just as precious as ours.
1:2 May grace and peace be lavished on you as you grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!
Believers’ Salvation and the Work of God
1:3 I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.
1:4 Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire.
1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; 1:6 to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; 1:7 to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love.
1:8 For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately.
1:9 But concerning the one who lacks such things – he is blind. That is to say, he is nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins.
1:10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin.
1:11 For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.
Salvation Based on the Word of God
1:12 Therefore, I intend to remind you constantly of these things even though you know them and are well established in the truth that you now have.
1:13 Indeed, as long as I am in this tabernacle, I consider it right to stir you up by way of a reminder, 1:14 since I know that my tabernacle will soon be removed, because our Lord Jesus Christ revealed this to me. 1:15 Indeed, I will also make every effort that, after my departure, you have a testimony of these things.
1:16 For we did not follow cleverly concocted fables when we made known to you the power and return of our Lord Jesus Christ; no, we were eyewitnesses of his grandeur.
1:17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father, when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory: “This is my dear Son, in whom I am delighted.”
1:18 When this voice was conveyed from heaven, we ourselves heard it, for we were with him on the holy mountain.
1:19 Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
1:20 Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, 1:21 for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Lord, You teach us that Your desire is to lavish grace and peace on Your children as we obediently submit to Your discipleship and “... grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!” May I be found faithful and humble and teachable so that You may bless me and shape me into a useful instrument of Your great plan.
“1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; 1:6 to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; 1:7 to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love.”
[Note: Peter was describing “ultrafidian” faith, the enhancements that follow saving faith, in 1:5-7. The absence of these things impede discipleship-to-maturity.]
1:10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin. 1:11 For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.
[Note: Peter used an unusual phrase “... make every effort to be sure of your calling and election”. If “calling and election” were fatalist constructs, as some religious philosophers would have it, then there would be no need to “be sure of” since those who are called and elected were such before they were even born. A Biblical understanding, addressed in a prior study, correctly defines these terms as the promised qualification for salvation conditioned upon a volitional submission to the Lordship of Christ. In this context it makes good sense to be certain that your heart was right with Christ when you believe that you were saved, not “magic words” or words said to satisfy the urgings of fellow humans, not a mere intellectual affirmation, and not an affirmation with any conditions attached - simply an unqualified surrender of everything to Christ. Once certain of that one may be led through 1:5-7 by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Absent that one is trying to live Christ-like out of ones own strength - which guaranteed to fail.]
1:12 Therefore, I intend to remind you constantly of these things even though you know them and are well established in the truth that you now have. 1:13 Indeed, as long as I am in this tabernacle, I consider it right to stir you up by way of a reminder, 1:14 since I know that my tabernacle will soon be removed, because our Lord Jesus Christ revealed this to me. 1:15 Indeed, I will also make every effort that, after my departure, you have a testimony of these things.
[Note: Peter promised to “nag” the believers to act based on their confession of submission to the Lordship of Christ, he reminded them that he knew his time was short, and committed to press for them to be so well-discipled that they would continue his work.]
1:16 For we did not follow cleverly concocted fables when we made known to you the power and return of our Lord Jesus Christ; no, we were eyewitnesses of his grandeur.
[Note: This stands as a challenge to every competing religious system to Biblical-Christianity.]
1:17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father, when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory: “This is my dear Son, in whom I am delighted.” 1:18 When this voice was conveyed from heaven, we ourselves heard it, for we were with him on the holy mountain.
1:19 Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
1:20 Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, 1:21 for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
[Note: The Bible is ultimately authored by God who permitted men to pen it, using their “voices” to communicate His message/]
The exhortation of Peter that those who read his words should make certain of their salvation. If they were not experiencing the growth he described in 1:5-7 he suggested that they may not truly be saved as such is the inevitable result of the working of the indwelling Holy Spirit (“... a downpayment” on the promise of salvation 2 Cor. 2:22).
With all of the noisy challenges to the authority and credibility of Biblical-Christianity does it make a difference to hear Peter affirm the Lord God's authorship of the Bible?
Peter's assurance should be that of every Biblical-Christian leader, that they – like Peter - would (will) "nag" believers to be certain that they understood (understand) the Gospel (and the elements of vs 1:5-7) well enough to both live them and share them with others.
What is an example of 1:5-7 being taught and worked-out in your life and in your fellowship?
Ask the Holy Spirit to review your life for evidence that you have learned and are increasingly living the teaching of 1:5-7.
Today I am choosing to partner with the Holy Spirit, and the "elders", to reinforce my knowledge of and working-out of these vital post-salvation "ultrafidian" (beyond faith) evidences of salvation and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit of God.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The False Teachers’ Ungodly Lifestyle
2:1 But false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. These false teachers will infiltrate your midst with destructive heresies, even to the point of denying the Master who bought them. As a result, they will bring swift destruction on themselves.
2:2 And many will follow their debauched lifestyles. Because of these false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.
2:3 And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation pronounced long ago is not sitting idly by; their destruction is not asleep.
2:4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment, 2:5 and if he did not spare the ancient world, but did protect Noah, a herald of righteousness, along with seven others, when God brought a flood on an ungodly world, 2:6 and if he turned to ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah when he condemned them to destruction, having appointed them to serve as an example to future generations of the ungodly, 2:7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man in anguish over the debauched lifestyle of lawless men, 2:8 (for while he lived among them day after day, that righteous man was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard) 2:9 – if so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials, and to reserve the unrighteous for punishment at the day of judgment, 2:10 especially those who indulge their fleshly desires and who despise authority. Brazen and insolent, they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones, 2:11 yet even angels, who are much more powerful, do not bring a slanderous judgment against them before the Lord.
2:12 But these men, like irrational animals – creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed – do not understand whom they are insulting, and consequently in their destruction they will be destroyed, 2:13 suffering harm as the wages for their harmful ways. By considering it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight, they are stains and blemishes, indulging in their deceitful pleasures when they feast together with you.
2:14 Their eyes, full of adultery, never stop sinning; they entice unstable people. They have trained their hearts for greed, these cursed children!
2:15 By forsaking the right path they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, 2:16 yet was rebuked for his own transgression (a dumb donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the prophet’s madness).
2:17 These men are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm, for whom the utter depths of darkness have been reserved.
2:18 For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.
2:19 Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved.
2:20 For if after they have escaped the filthy things of the world through the rich knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again get entangled in them and succumb to them, their last state has become worse for them than their first.
2:21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them.
2:22 They are illustrations of this true proverb: “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and “A sow, after washing herself, wallows in the mire.”
Lord, You have warned us about false teachers, yet from the time of Jesus until now many have been led astray. May I be Berean in testing all teaching against the Word of God and bold in speaking against apostasy.
2:1 But false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. These false teachers will infiltrate your midst with destructive heresies, even to the point of denying the Master who bought them. As a result, they will bring swift destruction on themselves.
[Note: The Lord God defends His Word and His children, but we must pay attention to the ways He tells us that He will warn us of false teachers, including the Berean model of checking all teaching against the Word. Peter shared the clear evidences that a teacher was a false teacher. The first was to deny Christ - as He is defined by the Word - not by the distortions of man.]
2:2 And many will follow their debauched lifestyles. Because of these false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 2:3 And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation pronounced long ago is not sitting idly by; their destruction is not asleep.
[Note: False teachers will live debauched lifestyles and will encourage others to do the same.]
Peter walked his readers through a checklist of the Lord God’s recorded past actions - followed by a logical conclusion:
2:4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment,
2:5 and if he did not spare the ancient world, but did protect Noah, a herald of righteousness, along with seven others, when God brought a flood on an ungodly world,
2:6 and if he turned to ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah when he condemned them to destruction, having appointed them to serve as an example to future generations of the ungodly,
2:7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man in anguish over the debauched lifestyle of lawless men, 2:8 (for while he lived among them day after day, that righteous man was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)
2:9a – if so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials,
[Note: Based on what the Lord God has done we may have confidence as to what He will do for us.]
2:9b and to reserve the unrighteous for punishment at the day of judgment, 2:10 especially those who indulge their fleshly desires and who despise authority. Brazen and insolent, they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones,
2:11 yet even angels, who are much more powerful, do not bring a slanderous judgment against them before the Lord.
[Note: It is not the place of the angels to condemn or to judge, nor would they bring a “slanderous judgment” since that would require them to misrepresent truth, rather the truthful judgment will be brought in good time by the Lord God.]
2:12 But these men, like irrational animals – creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed – do not understand whom they are insulting, and consequently in their destruction they will be destroyed, 2:13 suffering harm as the wages for their harmful ways. By considering it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight, they are stains and blemishes, indulging in their deceitful pleasures when they feast together with you. 2:14 Their eyes, full of adultery, never stop sinning; they entice unstable people. They have trained their hearts for greed, these cursed children! 2:15 By forsaking the right path they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, 2:16 yet was rebuked for his own transgression (a dumb donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the prophet’s madness).
[Note: It is important to remember that Peter is still speaking of false teachers. It is important to not extrapolate from the intended context of the text without great care and corroborating text elsewhere in the Bible.]
2:17 These men are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm, for whom the utter depths of darkness have been reserved. 2:18 For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.
[Note: It is unlikely that that the people of whom Peter spoke were saved, it likely means that they had ceased following the Judaisers and other false teachers only to fall pray to new ones.]
2:19 Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved.
2:20 For if after they have escaped the filthy things of the world through the rich knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again get entangled in them and succumb to them, their last state has become worse for them than their first. 2:21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them.
[Note: Peter wanted it known that once one hears the gospel, especially a teacher, one is without excuse.]
2:22 They are illustrations of this true proverb: “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and “A sow, after washing herself, wallows in the mire.”
[Note: Peter used really unpleasant word-pictures to make certain that people understand the heart-condition of those who reject the gospel, after hearing it and saying they would follow, yet then returning to a false gospel.]
The warning about false teachers is as important today, perhaps even more-so, than in Peter's time. While he was defending the newly-growing “Church”, the fellowship of believers, we are facing the latter days of these end times.
What are some practical ways to evaluate true and false teachers? May the outward evidences of their lifestyles, at-odds with “the fruits of the Spirit”, and their obvious breaks with the other teachings of the Word?
How different are we than those people who returned to their old sinful ways after hearing the gospel? Do we make excuses?
What examples of the Lord God's actions in the OT inspire you to trust Him in His promises for your life?
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to evaluate those whose teaching you trust, based on Peter's teaching.
Today, if error is revealed to me, I will respectfully challenge it. If the teacher is unrepentant I will remove myself from their teaching.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The False Teachers’ Denial of the Lord’s Return
3:1 Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written you, in which I am trying to stir up your pure mind by way of reminder:
3:2 I want you to recall both the predictions foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3:3 Above all, understand this: In the last days blatant scoffers will come, being propelled by their own evil urges 3:4 and saying, “Where is his promised return? For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.”
3:5 For they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water. 3:6 Through these things the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water. 3:7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
3:8 Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day.
3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare.
3:11 Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness, 3:12 while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God? Because of this day, the heavens will be burned up and dissolve, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze!
3:13 But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides.
Exhortation to the Faithful
3:14 Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for these things, strive to be found at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence.
3:15 And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him, 3:16 speaking of these things in all his letters. Some things in these letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures.
3:17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men and fall from your firm grasp on the truth.
3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.
Lord, all of the thing of fallen-creation will one-day be destroyed, You will create a new and perfect and rebellion-free heaven and earth. May I be faithful to see myself as set-apart by You to be-perfected rather than seeing myself as of this temporary world.
3:1 Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written you, in which I am trying to stir up your pure mind by way of reminder: 3:2 I want you to recall both the predictions foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3:3 Above all, understand this: In the last days blatant scoffers will come, being propelled by their own evil urges 3:4 and saying, “Where is his promised return? For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.” 3:5 For they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water. 3:6 Through these things the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water.
[Note: The text reads as if Peter was condemning the teaching of evolution “... they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the word of God ...”. It is interesting to note Peter’s reference to the creation narrative where the land was separated from the water and later swept-clean using, again, the image of immersion in water.]
3:7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
[Note: Elsewhere it has been observed that everything is held together by the word of Christ and will remain intact until Judgment.]
3:8 Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day.
[Note: Peter reminded his readers that God exists apart from the created thing we know as linear time.]
3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
[Note: God is “stalling” Judgment as it is His desire that “any ... perish but for all to come to repentance.”]
3:10a But the day of the Lord will come like a thief;
[Note: This means He will come unannounced.]
3:10b when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare.
[Note: Peter declared that there is no life elsewhere in the “heavens”, at least none containing a spiritual nature of interest to the Lord God - since it will all be obliterated and only Earth will remain to receive His attention.]
3:11 Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness, 3:12 while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God? Because of this day, the heavens will be burned up and dissolve, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze! 3:13 But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides. 3:14 Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for these things, strive to be found at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence.
3:15 And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him, 3:16 speaking of these things in all his letters. Some things in these letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures.
[Note: Peter was referring back to the Lord wanting more to be saved and to his prior reminder that the false teachers were suppressing the Lord God’s activity in history.]
3:17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men and fall from your firm grasp on the truth.
3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.
Peter's reference to the Lord God's creation of earth, and the tendency of scoffers to dismiss or ignore that in their teaching, stands as an intentional challenge to the godless formulations of evolution.
What are some practical ways to "... grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"?
What does the Lord God's desire that not "any ... perish but for all to come to repentance." say about His heart? How does it make bearing-up under the challenges and horrors of this fallen world just a little easier?
What is a good example or illustration which helps to explain the difference between the timeless perspective of God and the time-bound nature of His creation?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one area where you need to "... grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ".
Today I am committing to ask at least one fellow believer to join me in that "adventure" and together we will agree to partner with the Holy Spirit.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – “1 & 2 Peter” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in May of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
The Prologue to the Letter
1:1 This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched (concerning the word of life – 1:2 and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us).
1:3 What we have seen and heard we announce to you too, so that you may have fellowship with us (and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ). 1:4 Thus we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
God Is Light, So We Must Walk in the Light
1:5 Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
1:6 If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth.
1:7 But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
1:8 If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
1:9 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.
1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.
Lord, Your apostles testified to You because they wanted others to share their blessings of salvation. May I be as dedicated, sacrificially so - as necessary, to sharing Your blessings with others.
“1:1 This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched (concerning the word of life – 1:2 and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us).”
[Note: John established his first-hand knowledge-credentials. He also affirmed the deity of Christ.]
“... the eternal life that was with the Father [Jesus, the Logos – Word]
“... we have seen with our eyes c the word of life [The Word of Life refers to Jesus.]
“... was revealed to us [The person of the Trinity, Jesus.]
“1:3 What we have seen and heard we announce to you too, so that you may have fellowship with us (and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ). 1:4 Thus we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”
[Note: The Great Commission was that every believer was to announce to the world what the Lord God has revealed in His Gospel. Because of the Greatest Commandment, we love one-another as believers, and we find joy in adding to the numbers of those who share in that love.]
“1:5 Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.”
[Note: The Gospel message refers specifically to Jesus, and they heard that message directly from Him, and that message announces that the Lord God is light.]
“1:6 If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth.”
[Note: When we surrender to Christ we are transformed eternally, and we are joined to Him through the Holy Spirit, thus we cannot truly be His and continue to live as if nothing has happened. The fruits of the Spirit must be displayed in and through us or else we do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit and are not saved. To a lesser degree those who try to rationalize certain sinful conduct in any way must know from this text that they are harming their fellowship with their Lord, God – thus they are not in intentional-fellowship at all – even though their salvation may be genuine.]
“1:7 But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
1:8 If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
[Note: The Holy Spirit makes our understanding clear, if we say that sin is not what makes the salvation of Christ necessary then we do not have the Holy Spirit, and therefore are not saved. In a lesser sense one who suggests that some specific sin does not make us, without Christ, subject to eternal condemnation then they are saying that the Word of God is not true. That is apostasy.]
“1:9 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.” 1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.”
[Note: There is no forgiveness and no salvation possible for one who believes themselves without the need for The Savior. Forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration is available to those who acknowledge their need.]
The joy that we share with our Lord, God, is magnified every time just-one-more shares in our fellowship.
What are some practical ways to disciple believers to share a powerful desire to find joy in adding to the numbers of those who share in the eternal and saving love of the Lord God?
John’s words “We have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.” amplify our confidence in the Word.
What is an example from your fellowship where they celebrate every new believer?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you some ways that you may become more attuned to, and excited about, sharing the gospel.
Today I am choosing to ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement and to walk with me as I explore the ways of caring and sharing His Gospel with others.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
2:1 (My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One, 2:2 and he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.
Keeping God’s Commandments
2:3 Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments.
2:4 The one who says “I have come to know God” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person.
2:5 But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him.
2:6 The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.
2:7 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have already heard.
2:8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
2:9 The one who says he is in the light but still hates his fellow Christian is still in the darkness.
2:10 The one who loves his fellow Christian resides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
2:11 But the one who hates his fellow Christian is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Words of Reassurance
2:12 I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his name.
2:13 I am writing to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, that you have conquered the evil one.
2:14 I have written to you, children, that you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young people, that you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.
2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, 2:16 because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world.
2:17 And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.
Warning About False Teachers
2:18 Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour.
2:19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us, because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us.
2:20 Nevertheless you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.
2:21 I have not written to you that you do not know the truth, but that you do know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
2:22 Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son.
2:23 Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also.
2:24 As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.
2:25 Now this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life.
2:26 These things I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you.
2:27 Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him.
Children of God
2:28 And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back.
2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him.
Lord, You have given to us Your light, for this world and for eternity. May I be careful to walk the path You have set-out before me and to avoid those who preach against Your truth and/or those who preach “another Gospel”.
Peter explained that the expectation of the Lord God is not perfection, it is that we be intentional about our effort to keep the commandments, with His Holy Spirit to guide and empower us.
“2:7 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have already heard.”
[Note: John refers to the prior “Greatest Commandment” of Jesus that believers love one another – one value of which is the evangelically-attractive evidence/witness of our association with Jesus.]
“2:8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.”
[Note: John’s “new commandment” added detail to the “old commandment”.]
“2:9 The one who says he is in the light but still hates his fellow Christian is still in the darkness.”
“2:10 The one who loves his fellow Christian resides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 2:11 But the one who hates his fellow Christian is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”
[Note: This author considers this to be an unacceptable compromise in the NET Bible, done for the sake of readability, but at the price of accuracy – implying a meaning completely at-odds with the what appears from this perspective to be the intent of the Lord God. “... fellow Christians” should read “... fellow member of the community”, or the like. The reason is that it is self-contradictory – one may not lack eternal life and be a “fellow Christian”, keeping with the consistent usage of the term in 1 John. This problem with the rendering is acknowledged in the NET Translator’s Notes.]
“2:12 I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his name.”
[Note: John was reminding his readers that their salvation was intact because of Jesus and that any suggestion to the contrary was a false teaching.]
“2:13a I am writing to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning.”
[Note: John was reminding his readers of the eternal pre-existence of the Son Who is in and poured-out through the man/God Jesus; therefore they should have confidence in His power to save.]
“2”13b I am writing to you, young people, that you have conquered the evil one.”
[Note: John wanted his readers to remember that their salvation represented an eternal victory over the evil one – they need not fear what he could do to them eternally – though he represented a source of harassment in this world.]
“2:14a I have written to you, children, that you have known the Father.”
[Note: John was restating his prior argument for the Trinity, then about Jesus, now about the Father.]
“2:14b I have written to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. 2:14c I have written to you, young people, that you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.”
[Note: John repeated himself for emphasis.]
“2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, 2:16 because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
“2:17 And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.”
[Note: John wanted his readers to understand that their choice for or against Christ is an eternally binding one.]
“2:18 Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour. 2:19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us, because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us.”
[Note: The “antichrists” “came out from us” means that they were from the same Jewish heritage and/or the same region, and/or received some of the same teaching but chose to reject Christ and to preach and teach falsehoods. (Judah functioned as a sort of amti-Christ.]
“2:20 Nevertheless you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.”
[Note: Those who are truly saved have the indwelling Holy Spirit may discern true from false teaching.]
“2:21 I have not written to you that you do not know the truth, but that you do know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 2:22 Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son. 2:23 Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also.”
[Note: Some of the deceivers attempted to claim that they were saved via some direct relationship with the Father, bypassing Jesus; John assured his readers that this was not true. All are saved the same way.]
“2:24 As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 2:25 Now this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life. 2:26 These things I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you.”
[Note: The conditional is “If” - “If what you heard from the beginning remains in you” refers to the one who has been saved. One who has not been saved would not retain the teaching as it would not have been kept for them by the indwelling Holy Spirit.]
“2:27 Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him.”
[Note: John rephrased and clarified vss 2:24-26]
“2:28 And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back.”
[Note: John was not placing their salvation in question, merely their sense of dishonor before Christ – if they had failed to live righteously prior to His return.]
“2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him.”
[Note: John was exhorting them that righteous living is the expectation of all believers and that any teaching to the contrary is false. There were some who lived and taught that specific sins were acceptable.]
The repeated emphasis of John on righteous living.
What are some practical ways that we might live more righteous lives?
One problem then, and now, is false teachers who promote(d) the notion that grace allows unrighteous living.
What is an example from your life where your knowledge of the “Greatest Commandment” “... love one another” helped you to resist the temptation of the enemy to act in unloving ways toward a fellow believer?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an area in your life where you have made excuses for unrighteous behavior.
Today I agree to partner with the Holy Spirit, with accountability from a prayer partner, to repent of my unrighteous behavior, to reconcile my behavior with the Word of God, and to be restored to a closer daily walk with my Lord, God.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
3:1 (See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children – and indeed we are! For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know him.
3:2 Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is.
3:3 And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure).
3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; indeed, sin is lawlessness.
3:5 And you know that Jesus was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
3:6 Everyone who resides in him does not sin; everyone who sins has neither seen him nor known him.
3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous.
3:8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the works of the devil.
3:9 Everyone who has been fathered by God does not practice sin, because God’s seed resides in him, and thus he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered by God.
3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are revealed: Everyone who does not practice righteousness – the one who does not love his fellow Christian – is not of God.
God Is Love, So We Must Love One Another
3:11 For this is the gospel message that you have heard from the beginning: that we should love one another, 3:12 not like Cain who was of the evil one and brutally murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous.
3:13 Therefore do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
3:14 We know that we have crossed over from death to life because we love our fellow Christians. The one who does not love remains in death.
3:15 Everyone who hates his fellow Christian is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
3:16 We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians.
3:17 But whoever has the world’s possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person?
3:18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth.
3:19 And by this we will know that we are of the truth and will convince our conscience in his presence, 3:20 that if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience and knows all things.
3:21 Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God, 3:22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing to him.
3:23 Now this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he gave us the commandment.
3:24 And the person who keeps his commandments resides in God, and God in him. Now by this we know that God resides in us: by the Spirit he has given us.
Lord, You dwell in us through Your Holy Spirit, and His fruits are poured-out through us as love given sacrificially to fellow believers who share Your Holy Spirit. May I be found a willing and useful vessel of Your love to my brothers and sisters in-Christ.
“3:1 (See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children – and indeed we are! For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know him. 3:2 Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is. 3:3 And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure).”
[Note: When the Lord God prepared him to write Revelation John was given a glimpse of Heaven, and some of what he saw he was told not to record. The Lord did not want us to be distracted by that but rather to attend to the business of purifying ourselves.]
“3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; indeed, sin is lawlessness. 3:5 And you know that Jesus was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 3:6 Everyone who resides in him does not sin; everyone who sins has neither seen him nor known him.”
[Note: This does not mean that we are expected to be sin-free, it means that we do not ‘practice’ sin; meaning, we do not repeat the same sin over and over - without regret.]
“3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous. 3:8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the works of the devil. 3:9 Everyone who has been fathered by God does not practice sin, because God’s seed resides in him, and thus he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered by God. 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are revealed: Everyone who does not practice righteousness – the one who does not love his fellow Christian – is not of God.”
[Note: John repeated himself to be certain that his point was made. Just as we are not expected to be sin-free we are also not expected to be perfectly righteous – we are to demonstrate an intentional effort to seek righteousness in partnership with the Holy Spirit.]
“3:11 For this is the gospel message that you have heard from the beginning: that we should love one another, 3:12 not like Cain who was of the evil one and brutally murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous.”
[Note: As we read in Ecclesiastes “There is nothing new under the sun.” The confrontation between good and evil has been long and continuous, as first recorded in the third chapter of the Creation narrative in Genesis.]
“3:13 Therefore do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 3:14 We know that we have crossed over from death to life because we love our fellow Christians. The one who does not love remains in death. 3:15 Everyone who hates his fellow Christian is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. 3:16 We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians. 3:17 But whoever has the world’s possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person?”
[Note: This author considers this to be an unacceptable compromise in the NET Bible, done for the sake of readability, but at the price of accuracy – implying a meaning completely at-odds with the what appears from this perspective to be the intent of the Lord God. “... fellow Christians” should read “... fellow member of the community”, or the like. The reason is that it is self-contradictory – one may not lack eternal life and be a “fellow Christian”, keeping with the consistent usage of the term in 1 John. This problem with the rendering is acknowledged in the NET Translator’s Notes.]
“3:18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth. 3:19 And by this we will know that we are of the truth and will convince our conscience in his presence, 3:20 that if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience and knows all things. 3:21 Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God, 3:22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing to him.”
[Note: It may be helpful to substitute “soul” for “conscience” since the text is speaking of the nexus of our intellect and emotions where we are assured or uncertain of our salvation and our right standing before God.]
“3:23 Now this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he gave us the commandment. 3:24 And the person who keeps his commandments resides in God, and God in him. Now by this we know that God resides in us: by the Spirit he has given us.”
[Note: This latter affirms the Holy Spirit is a member of the Trinity.]
The Bible tells us the history of good versus evil; Cain harbored unrighteous attitudes and sinned against his brother Abel, who sought to be righteous.
What are some practical ways to resist sin and to pursue righteousness?
How does the commandment that “... we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another” and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is God residing in us help when we are struggling with hard-to-like/love fellow believers?
What is an example of your “conscience” or “soul” convicting you of a predilection (predisposition) toward sin rather than toward righteousness. How did you respond to that conviction?
Ask the Holy Spirit to identify an area of your life where you tend to press closer and closer to the “fire” of sin, for the sake of temporary gratification, rather than striving to stretch out toward the blessing of greater righteousness.
Today I am choosing to partner with the Holy Spirit, and an accountability partner, to reverse direction in the less-righteous area(s) of my life.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Testing the Spirits
4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God, 4:3 but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.
4:4 You are from God, little children, and have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
4:5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world’s perspective and the world listens to them.
4:6 We are from God; the person who knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.
God is Love
4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God.
4:8 The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
4:9 By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him. 4:10 In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
4:11 Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another.
4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us, and his love is perfected in us.
4:13 By this we know that we reside in God and he in us: in that he has given us of his Spirit. 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
4:15 If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in God.
4:16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him.
4:17 By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world.
4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love.
4:19 We love because he loved us first.
4:20 If anyone says “I love God” and yet hates his fellow Christian, he is a liar, because the one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
4:21 And the commandment we have from him is this: that the one who loves God should love his fellow Christian too.
Lord, You give us love to test our hearts and the hearts of those who would lead, so that we might know who has Your indwelling Holy Spirit and who does not. May I be careful who I trust as a leader and that my heart is always Yours when I lead.
“4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God, 4:3 but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.”
[Note: John wanted his readers to be keenly aware of the spiritual battle that rages all around them.]
“4:4 You are from God, little children, and have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 4:5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world’s perspective and the world listens to them. 4:6 We are from God; the person who knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.”
[Note: We should not fear the deceiving spirits as we have “... conquered them”, and we continue to do so since we are Children of God. We should also not be surprised when people in the world believe lies instead of the truth as lies are the common-ground among those in rebellion.]
“4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God. 4:8 The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 4:9 By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him. 4:10 In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 4:11 Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another. 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us, and his love is perfected in us. 4:13 By this we know that we reside in God and he in us: in that he has given us of his Spirit. 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”
[Note: John re-emphasized love for one-another (believers) as evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which is evidence of salvation, which itself comes only from confessing (believing and surrendering to ) Jesus Christ as Lord.]
“4:15 If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in God. 4:16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him. 4:17 By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world.
[Note: “Perfected” refers to the Lord God’s love leading us toward and guaranteeing us entry to Heaven.]
“4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love.”
[Note: A truly saved person should never doubt their salvation because the evidence of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, pouring out His love in and through us, should be obvious.]
“4:19 We love because he loved us first. 4:20 If anyone says “I love God” and yet hates his fellow Christian, he is a liar, because the one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 4:21 And the commandment we have from him is this: that the one who loves God should love his fellow Christian too.”
[Note: John drew a powerful contrast; if one sees (in his spirit) a genuinely saved believer – who must be filled with the love of God because he/she has the indwelling Holy Spirit of God – and hates them, then that person cannot him/herself have the Holy Spirit (they have the spirit of the enemy) and they therefore cannot be saved.]
Do you understand the spiritual nature of the battle for truth? Are you in prayer and preparation putting on the “full armor” daily?
What are some practical ways to recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person, and ways to recognize a deceiver?
The unsaved are vulnerable to deceit and that creates a challenge for evangelistic-missions.
What is a practical example of someone who claimed Christ but who acted unrepentantly-hateful toward a believer (one whose faith-relationship with Christ was obvious to others)?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a process of spiritual maturity to make you more sensitive to deception.
Today I am choosing to improve one area of my daily walk so that I may protect myself against deception and I will also become more intentional in the outward expression of love for fellow believers.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been fathered by God, and everyone who loves the father loves the child fathered by him.
5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God and obey his commandments.
5:3 For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments do not weigh us down,
5:4 because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world.
Testimony About the Son
This is the conquering power that has conquered the world: our faith.
5:5 Now who is the person who has conquered the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
5:6 Jesus Christ is the one who came by water and blood – not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
5:7 For there are three that testify, 5:8 the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three are in agreement.
5:9 If we accept the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, because this is the testimony of God that he has testified concerning his Son.
5:10 (The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has testified concerning his Son.)
5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
5:12 The one who has the Son has this eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal life.
Assurance of Eternal Life
5:13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
5:14 And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
5:15 And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him.
5:16 If anyone sees his fellow Christian committing a sin not resulting in death, he should ask, and God will grant life to the person who commits a sin not resulting in death. There is a sin resulting in death. I do not say that he should ask about that.
5:17 All unrighteousness is sin, but there is sin not resulting in death.
5:18 We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one he has fathered, and the evil one cannot touch him.
5:19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us insight to know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life.
5:21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
Lord, You have assured us of salvation and warned us of the danger or idols. May I be watchful to avoid anything that may be an idol, stealing Your rightful place as Lord of my life.
John emphasized his prior point that a saved person has the indwelling Holy Spirit of God as “... the testimony in himself”.
“5:13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
[Note: Here is another affirmation of our assurance of salvation.]
“5:14 And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 5:15 And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him.”
[Note: This has nothing to do with the all-too pervasive ‘name it-claim it’ philosophy that has infiltrated many Christian and quasi-Christian fellowships. John is not asserting that the Lord God ‘... is a cosmic vending machine’, as one has put it, (this is clear from the text immediately following). ‘The phrase ... according to His will’ presumes a sensitivity to the priorities of the Lord and not the world in-rebellion, thus the expectation is of the things for which Jesus expended ‘heavenly energy’, rather than the things of the world He discouraged as a distraction - displacing the more-important.]
“5:16a If anyone sees his fellow Christian committing a sin not resulting in death, he should ask, and God will grant life to the person who commits a sin not resulting in death.”
[Note: This is the qualifier for verses 5:14-5:16a. This is also, unfortunately, another case where “... fellow Christian” is the improper translation (which, oddly enough, the NET translator’s notes acknowledge – yet they still used it!) In this case, as in more than one previous, the more-correct phrase would be “... fellow members of the community”. This is apparent because a Christian does not need to pray for another Christian for their sins to be forgiven such that they will not fall into an unsaved condition – only an unsaved person could benefit from the prayers of a saved one in this manner. Job was asked to pray for his troublesome friends so that they would be blessed (or not punished) by God due to His good-will toward Job. We are asked to consider praying that God will stay His hand of judgment upon our unsaved friends (and family members) despite their sin – witness Jesus and Stephen “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.”]
“5:16b There is a sin resulting in death. I do not say that he should ask about that. 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin, but there is sin not resulting in death.”
[Note: We know from elsewhere in the NT that “... blaspheming the Holy Spirit” has been identified by most scholars as ‘The unforgivable sin.’ This, of course, makes sense as it is only the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit which confirms ones salvation “... the first downpayment of our salvation” as the apostle Paul phrased it.]
“5:18 We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one he has fathered, and the evil one cannot touch him.”
[Note: John was, of course, speaking of “... a sin resulting in (eternal) death” – such is impossible for a truly saved person as they no longer own their free will – they surrendered it at the moment of salvation and the Lord God will never return it as we would only do something dumb with it!]
“5:19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us insight to know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life. 5:21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”
In the Notes section of Counterfeit Gods, Tim Keller has included a helpful list of idol categories:
Theological idols – Doctrinal errors that produce such distorted viewsof God that we end up worshipping a false god.
Sexual idols – Addictions such as pornography and fetishisms that promise but don’t deliver a sense of intimacy and acceptance; ideals of physical beauty in yourself and/or your partner; romantic idealism.
Magic/ritual idols – Witchcraft and the occult. All idolatry is in the end a form of magic that seeks to rebel against the order of transcendent reality rather than submitting to it in love and wisdom.
Political/economic idols – Ideologies of the left, right, and libertarian that absolutize some aspect of political order and make it the solution. Deifying or demonizing free markets, for example.
Racial/national idols – Racism, militarism, nationalism, or ethnic pride that turns bitter or oppressive.
Relational idols – Dysfunctional family systems of codependency; “fatal attraction”; living your life through your children.
Religious idols – Moralism and legalism; idolatry of success and gifts; religion as a pretext for abuse of power.
Philosophical idols – Systems of thought that make some created thing the problem with life (instead of sin) and some human product or enterprise the solution to our problems (instead of God’s grace).
Cultural idols – Radical individualism, as in the West, that makes an idol out of individual happiness at the expense of community; shame cultures that make an idol out of family and clan at the expense of individual rights.
Deep idols – Motivational drives and temperaments made into absolutes: a. Power idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if – I have power and influence over others.” b. Approval idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if – I am loved and respected by __________.” c. Comfort idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if – I have this kind of pleasure experience, a particular quality of life.” d. Control idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if – I am able to get mastery over my life in the area of __________.”
Source: http://blogofdan.co.uk/?p=3385
Verses 5:19-21 are a summary of the rest of Chapter 5 – we have salvation and the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that we may discern truth from lies – but we are responsible to leverage the discernment and wisdom of the Holy Spirit to keep us from drifting into the many forms of idolatry that are so common of the world.
What have you been taught about the phrase “... a sin resulting in (eternal) death”? How does this study of this chapter assist your understanding?
The Lord God's affirms your salvation through His Holy Spirit.
What an example of the Holy Spirit guiding you away from sin into which you might otherwise have slipped?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone for whom he wants you to pray.
Today I will pray a request that the Lord God withhold His judgment upon one who has sinned against me - as an act of mercy.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
2 John
Introduction and Thanksgiving
1:1 From the elder, to an elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth (and not I alone, but also all those who know the truth), 1:2 because of the truth that resides in us and will be with us forever.
1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
1:4 I rejoiced greatly because I have found some of your children living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded us.
Warning Against False Teachers
1:5 But now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning), that we love one another.
1:6 (Now this is love: that we walk according to his commandments.) This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning; thus you should walk in it.
1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist!
1:8 Watch out, so that you do not lose the things we have worked for, but receive a full reward.
1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in this teaching has both the Father and the Son.
1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting, 1:11 because the person who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds.
Conclusion
1:12 Though I have many other things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come visit you and speak face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
1:13 The children of your elect sister greet you.
3 John
Introduction and Thanksgiving
1:1 From the elder, to Gaius my dear brother, whom I love in truth.
1:2 Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.
1:3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, just as you are living according to the truth.
1:4 I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are living according to the truth.
The Charge to Gaius
1:5 Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers).
1:6 They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
1:7 For they have gone forth on behalf of “The Name,” accepting nothing from the pagans.
1:8 Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we become coworkers in cooperation with the truth.
Diotrephes the Troublemaker
1:9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us.
1:10 Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing – the bringing of unjustified charges against us with evil words! And not being content with that, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but hinders the people who want to do so and throws them out of the church!
1:11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad has not seen God.
Worthy Demetrius
1:12 Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. We also testify to him, and you know that our testimony is true.
Conclusion
1:13 I have many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink.
1:14 But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face. Peace be with you. The friends here greet you. Greet the friends there by name.
Lord, You have called us to love and to receive and support one-another, but to resist and to refuse any partnership with those who reject You. May I be confident in You, cautious about humankind, and in all things committed to the guidance of Your Word.
“1:1 From the elder, to an elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth (and not I alone, but also all those who know the truth), 1:2 because of the truth that resides in us and will be with us forever. 1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, in truth and love.”
[Note: “Elect” here refers to one who has met the Lord God’s often-stated requirement of surrender to the Lordship of Christ and accepted His gift of salvation. The common English usage of “elect” may refer to one who has been met the legal requirements for office both under the law and the results of the ballot box and now awaits the proper moment to assume the responsibilities of that office. We also have met the Lord’s requirements and we also are heavens-elect in-waiting. There is considerable debate as to the identity of the “lady and her children”; this writer takes it to be yet another feminine pronoun applied to The Church (assembly of believers) with the children those whom they have received as new believers.]
“1:4 I rejoiced greatly because I have found some of your children living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded us.”
[Note: It is instructive that John referenced “... some of your children” as opposed to “... your children” or “... all of your children”. John was rejoicing for those who are “... living according to the truth” – the text does not tell us if he knew that some were not or was uncertain and wanted to be sure of the others.]
“1:5 But now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning), that we love one another. 1:6 (Now this is love: that we walk according to his commandments.) This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning; thus you should walk in it. 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist! 1:8 Watch out, so that you do not lose the things we have worked for, but receive a full reward.”
[Note: John wanted her (the local “Church” to be certain that her (their) lifestyle and faith are right before the Lord and that she (they) are (were) teaching the same to her children. We are assured elsewhere that in the latter days of the end times the deceivers will be so effective that they would deceive to the point of drawing people away to destruction “... even the very elect, were that possible” – so we know that those who are truly saved may lose only their blessings in this world and not their salvation. It is reasonable, however, to postulate that John was referring to her (the believers) desire that her entire family (the whole community) would be saved and if her (their) role model and teaching was defective - to that degree her (their) “... full reward” could be “lost.”]
“1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in this teaching has both the Father and the Son. 1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting, 1:11 because the person who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds.”
[Note: John repeated a common NT teaching that believers must never provide aid or comfort to one who teaches a false gospel.]
“1:12 Though I have many other things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come visit you and speak face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 1:13 The children of your elect sister greet you.”
[Note: John, still imprisoned on the Island of Patmos, sounded a great deal like the apostle Paul in his preference for in-person communication and in his faithful desire to one day receive the freedom to do so.]
3 John
“1:1 From the elder, to Gaius my dear brother, whom I love in truth. 1:2 Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. 1:3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, just as you are living according to the truth. 1:4 I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are living according to the truth.”
“1:5 Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers). 1:6 They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 1:7 For they have gone forth on behalf of “The Name,” accepting nothing from the pagans. 1:8 Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we become coworkers in cooperation with the truth.”
[Note: John was asking Gaius to provide some practical resources to “... the brothers”.]
“1:9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us. 1:10 Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing – the bringing of unjustified charges against us with evil words! And not being content with that, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but hinders the people who want to do so and throws them out of the church! 1:11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad has not seen God. 1:12 Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. We also testify to him, and you know that our testimony is true.”
[Note: Diotrephes’ oversized ego, and his unloving reaction to John (and those whom John addressed his letter), may cause a reader to interpret that Diotrephes was in eternal mortal jeopardy. He was, at least, facing some severe chastising from the Lord.]
“1:13 I have many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink. 1:14 But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face. (1:15) Peace be with you. The friends here greet you. Greet the friends there by name.”
Merely because a person has heard the truth does not mean they will accept it, nor that once accepting it, that they will consistently obey it.
Do we have practical ways to support those who travel on behalf of the Lord – those who lack sufficient means of support – without taking from the needs of the local fellowship?
How do we deal with the problem of leaders who seem to desperately need constant attention?
What are some examples of conflict, which involves gossip or unloving attitudes, and how was that resolved?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone in leadership for whom He wants to to pray because they are so desperate for attention that they push away others who have been sent by God to serve alongside them, they distort priorities and/or the Word of God to draw attention, and/or they ill-treat those who try to lovingly make them away of legitimate Biblical concerns.
Today I will pray in-earnest for the leader whom the Holy Spirit has directed me. I will make this a priority not only for the leader but for the harm that an unrestored right-relationship with the Lord God can do to many with whom he/she interacts in a role of authority.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Salutation
1:1 From Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, wrapped in the love of God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.
1:2 May mercy, peace, and love be lavished on you!
Condemnation of the False Teachers
1:3 Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel compelled instead to write to encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
1:4 For certain men have secretly slipped in among you – men who long ago were marked out for the condemnation I am about to describe – ungodly men who have turned the grace of our God into a license for evil and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
1:5 Now I desire to remind you (even though you have been fully informed of these facts once for all) that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, later destroyed those who did not believe.
1:6 You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day.
1:7 So also Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns, since they indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire in a way similar to these angels, are now displayed as an example by suffering the punishment of eternal fire.
1:8 Yet these men, as a result of their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and insult the glorious ones.
1:9 But even when Michael the archangel was arguing with the devil and debating with him concerning Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a slanderous judgment, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”
1:10 But these men do not understand the things they slander, and they are being destroyed by the very things that, like irrational animals, they instinctively comprehend.
1:11 Woe to them! For they have traveled down Cain’s path, and because of greed have abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error; hence, they will certainly perish in Korah’s rebellion.
1:12 These men are dangerous reefs at your love feasts, feasting without reverence, feeding only themselves. They are waterless clouds, carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit – twice dead, uprooted; 1:13 wild sea waves, spewing out the foam of their shame; wayward stars for whom the utter depths of eternal darkness have been reserved.
1:14 Now Enoch, the seventh in descent beginning with Adam, even prophesied of them, saying, “Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy ones, 1:15 to execute judgment on all, and to convict every person of all their thoroughly ungodly deeds that they have committed, and of all the harsh words that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
1:16 These people are grumblers and fault-finders who go wherever their desires lead them, and they give bombastic speeches, enchanting folks for their own gain.
Exhortation to the Faithful
1:17 But you, dear friends – recall the predictions foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:18 For they said to you, “In the end time there will come scoffers, propelled by their own ungodly desires.”
1:19 These people are divisive, worldly, devoid of the Spirit.
1:20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit,
1:21 maintain yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life.
1:22 And have mercy on those who waver;
1:23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy on others, coupled with a fear of God, hating even the clothes stained by the flesh.
Final Blessing
1:24 Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence,
1:25 to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.
Lord, You have warned us of the self-centered, self-worshiping, self-promoting people who will pretend to speak for You but who rather disrespect You and draw others into their sins. May I be alert to deceivers and frauds and bold to call them out according to the text of Jude and others in Your Word.
“1:1 From Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, wrapped in the love of God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ. 1:2 May mercy, peace, and love be lavished on you!”
[Note: Jude chose phraseology that was very flamboyant; clearly, the joy of the Lord is right where it should have been, at the center of his heart. When he used the term “called” he referred to those who, like men qualified for military service, were “called” by the Lord God to salvation – not due to any works or individual righteousness (as we have read previously) – but because they, by faith, had surrendered to the Lordship of Christ.]
“1:3 Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel compelled instead to write to encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 1:4 For certain men have secretly slipped in among you – men who long ago were marked out for the condemnation I am about to describe – ungodly men who have turned the grace of our God into a license for evil and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
[Note: Jude affirmed their salvation as a way to remove it, as a concern, from the discussion.]
“1:5 Now I desire to remind you (even though you have been fully informed of these facts once for all) that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, later destroyed those who did not believe.”
[Note: Jude said it was Jesus who called Moses and caused the Jews be freed and punished those among the Egyptians and Jews who continued to rebel. The OT describes the One who did this as God – therefore this is another confirmation of the Trinity. Jude could have meant this as a rhetorical flourish, referring to the salvation provided by Jesus, but the text does not support that interpretation.]
“1:6 You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day.”
[Note: Jude was painting a word-picture of the battle in the spiritual realm and he was also reminding his readers of last days prophesy.]
“1:7 So also Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns, since they indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire in a way similar to these angels, are now displayed as an example by suffering the punishment of eternal fire.
[Note: The text of Jude does not require us to take the meaning that the conduct of the fallen angels was the same as that of the humans in Sodom and Gomorrah. Perhaps a better understanding of Jude’s texts is a parallel illustration; in this case the emphasis is on their wanton rebellion, rather then upon the specific form of their sin, while they were in the state of rebellion.]
“1:8 Yet these men, as a result of their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and insult the glorious ones.”
[Note: The phrase “... their dreams” refers to their selfish desires for importance, lust, and power.]
“1:9 But even when Michael the archangel was arguing with the devil and debating with him concerning Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a slanderous judgment, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”
[Note: The faithful angels knew their place and did not pretend to speak for the Lord God. Judgment and vengeance belongs to our Lord alone.]
“1:10 But these men do not understand the things they slander, and they are being destroyed by the very things that, like irrational animals, they instinctively comprehend. 1:11 Woe to them! For they have traveled down Cain’s path, and because of greed have abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error; hence, they will certainly perish in Korah’s rebellion. 1:12 These men are dangerous reefs at your love feasts, feasting without reverence, feeding only themselves. They are waterless clouds, carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit – twice dead, uprooted; 1:13 wild sea waves, spewing out the foam of their shame; wayward stars for whom the utter depths of eternal darkness have been reserved.”
[Note: Jude again painted a powerful portrait of the impact of sin run-wild, using examples from the OT with which his readers would have been familiar.]
“1:14 Now Enoch, the seventh in descent beginning with Adam, even prophesied of them, saying, “Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy ones, 1:15 to execute judgment on all, and to convict every person of all their thoroughly ungodly deeds that they have committed, and of all the harsh words that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 1:16 These people are grumblers and fault-finders who go wherever their desires lead them, and they give bombastic speeches, enchanting folks for their own gain.”
“1:17 But you, dear friends – recall the predictions foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1:18 For they said to you, “In the end time there will come scoffers, propelled by their own ungodly desires.” 1:19 These people are divisive, worldly, devoid of the Spirit.”
“ 1:20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit, 1:21 maintain yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life. 1:22 And have mercy on those who waver; 1:23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy on others, coupled with a fear of God, hating even the clothes stained by the flesh.”
[Note: Jude challenged the believers to reach out to the lost, while they were to avoid any participation in sin which might cause even their “... clothes (to be) stained by the flesh.”
“1:24 Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence, 1:25 to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen”
[Note: Jude’s benediction matched the rest of his writing – emotively powerful.]
Do we have the energy of Jude – clearly one who is listening to the Holy Spirit?
What are some practical ways to balance outreach to the lost while keeping oneself from sin?
Jude’s observation was that it was Jesus who led Moses in leading His people into freedom from captivity in Egypt. Even if you take Jude to intend a rhetorical flourish, as to the reach of His saving work on the Cross and beyond, it is a powerful piece of text.
What is an illustration of your understanding of the spiritual battle and the parallels between angelic and human rebellion?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a fellow believer who would be blessed to share with you the teaching of the book of Jude.
Today I will be as excited and expressive as Jude as I communicate the amazing blessings of the Lord God, and His warning to be cautious as to whose teaching to trust, to a fellow believer – as an encouragement to them, as a warning in-love, and as a shared act of celebration for me.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – “1, 2, 3 John, Jude” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in May of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections With a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
J.B. Phillips, a highly respected Biblical scholar and translator, wrote in his introduction to his English language translation of Revelation that he nearly decided to not translate it at all. He observed that the Greek is “sloppy”, something that challenged his self-identified preference for order and precision, which he had happily found in the rest of the Books. While he fasted and prayed and studied the Lord God opened his eyes to a truth which we all must recognize – John was in an ecstatic state, he was viewing things never before seen by human eyes, he was interpreting them for the purpose of description based on his limited life experience (and the limitations of human language), he was recording that which he was instructed (by the angel) to record, and he was refraining from recording what he was told not to record. Once the apostle John returned to his normal state how could he choose what to edit or not without the fear that he may alter something important? Thus John did not edit his notes. This leaves the reader with the best-effort of the translator (or translation team) to make the text both faithful to the original (from ancient Greek to modern English) as well as readable. As with all of the Word of God it is only with the assistance of the indwelling Holy Spirit that we are able to rightly-discern what is His purpose for us to learn from the Book of Revelation.
This is the first of eight-weeks of daily studies through the book of Revelation. We will follow the divisions found in Constable’s Notes and also used by Daniel B. Wallace, a fellow contributor to the online Bible study resources hosted at bible.org. The divisions are as follows: 1:1-20, 2:1-3:22, 4:1-5:15, 6:1-8:1, 8:2-14:20, 15:1-18:24, 19:1-22:5, 22:6-21.
The Prologue
1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must happen very soon. He made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John, 1:2 who then testified to everything that he saw concerning the word of God and the testimony about Jesus Christ. 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it, because the time is near!
Lord, You blessed the apostle John with an amazing and unique experience, and You sent an angel to serve as his Heavenly “tour guide”. May I be as surrendered to guidance of the Holy Spirit, as I read the Word of God, as was John to his angelic guide.
“1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ,”
For the purposes of humankind the entire Bible is a revelation about Jesus Christ, certainly insofar as He was the One Who “created” and “all of the law and prophet/prophesy” from Genesis 3 on were about Him and His work of redemption; the Word is as well as a revelation given by Him of the necessary detail of the entirety of the history of the created cosmos and the Lord God’s interaction with it.
“... which God gave him to show his servants what must happen very soon.”
In this case the reference is specifically to Jesus as the Lord God partially-incarnate (no created thing may, of course, contain the Lord God) during His ministry in-the-flesh on earth, and later through the ministry of the Holy Spirit as He guided the Biblical authors and He illuminates the Word to every believer.
“He made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John,”
“it” refers to “what must happen very soon” and as the events recorded in Revelation unfolded almost immediately following John's revelation the angel was communicating the Lord God's plan (the elements of which were necessary for believers to know) to them (us).
“1:2 who then testified to everything that he saw concerning the word of God and the testimony about Jesus Christ.”
John was not only present while Jesus walked the earth, he was relationally-close to Him, and he was then treated to an angelic tour of Heaven together with a time-breaching multimedia presentation.
“1:3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud,”
One is blessed merely to have the words of John as they are a record of his unique experience in Heaven, blessed to have an opportunity to read them aloud – sharing them with others, and blessed to have the Holy Spirit illuminate them as they are read and heard.
“… and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it,
The NET Translator's notes observe that an alternate rendering of this text might well include the following: “to continue to obey orders or commandments – ‘to obey, to keep commandments, obedience.’”
“… because the time is near!”
As already noted the events prophesied in Revelation began immediately after they were revealed to John and continue to this very day; indeed, they will continue until the end of created time itself, as they conclude with “a new heaven and a new earth”.
The circumstances of John were unique. Pray that the Holy Spirit will find you a willing partner in exploring His Word – not allowing yourself to be distracted by the word-pictures; rather, hungry for the Lord God's embedded message.
What are some practical ways to disciple believers to value the teaching of the Bible so that it is genuinely-authoritative in their lives?
The amazing experience of John is all the more amazing due to his incredible humility - that once returned that he did not attempt to draw attention to himself but only to the Lord God.
In your fellowship, when they read from the Word of God, is there is a genuine sense of awe and power and a desire to be edified so that they may “obey”.
Ask the Holy Spirit to impress upon you the proper awe and respect of His Word.
Today I am choosing to read the text of Revelation several times, perhaps in more than one translation, over the next eight weeks. If there is something that I feel He wants me to share from that experience I will prayerfully seek a fellow believer with whom to share.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
“1:4 From John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from
“he who is,”
and who was,
and who is still to come,
and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
1:5 and from Jesus Christ – the faithful witness,
the firstborn from among the dead,
the ruler over the kings of the earth.
To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood
1:6 and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father – to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! Amen.”
Lord, You are eternal, You set us free, and You have chosen to allow us to serve You here on earth. May I be in constant-praise so that I never forget Who I serve and why.
“1:4 From John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from “he who is,” and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 1:5 and from Jesus Christ – the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood 1:6 and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father – to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! Amen. “
John’s prayer of greeting was addressed to the Churches (gatherings of local believers) in the Roman province of Asia (not Asia proper).
He quoted an old testament text and a new testament prophesy; God “He Who Is” (Psalm 24:10), and “Who Is still to come” (Matthew 24:27.
John reminded his readers that Jesus was, of course, the first to be re-born from among humans who were dead in their sins.
He also reminded them that it was the sins of humankind which He took upon Himself, though He was without sin.
John used the phrase “... from the seven spirits” and the following discussion is among the best that I have read:
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“Question: “What are the seven spirits of God?”
“Answer: The "seven spirits of God" are mentioned in Revelation 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; and 5:6. The seven spirits of God are not specifically identified, so it’s impossible to be dogmatic. Revelation 1:4 mentions that the seven spirits are before God's throne. Revelation 3:1 indicates that Jesus Christ "holds" the seven spirits of God. Revelation 4:5 links the seven spirits of God with seven burning lamps that are before God's throne. Revelation 5:6 identifies the seven spirits with the "seven eyes" of the Lamb and states that they are "sent out into all the earth."
“There are at least three possible interpretations of the seven spirits of God. The first is that the seven spirits of God are symbolic of the Holy Spirit. The Bible, and especially the Book of Revelation, uses the number seven to refer to perfection and completion. If that is the meaning of the seven in the “seven spirits” then it is not referring to seven different spirits of God, but rather the perfect and complete Holy Spirit. The second view is that the seven spirits of God refer to seven angelic beings, possibly the seraphim, the cherubim. This would fit with the numerous others angelic beings that are described in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 4:6-9; 5:6-14; 19:4-5).
“A third possibility is based on Isaiah 11:2 which says, “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” This could possibly explain the seven spirits of God…(1) Spirit of the LORD, (2) Spirit of wisdom, (3) Spirit of understanding, (4) Spirit of counsel, (5) Spirit of power, (6) Spirit of knowledge, (7) Spirit of the fear of the Lord. The Bible doesn’t tell us specifically who/what the seven spirits are, but the first interpretation that they are the Holy Spirit seems the most likely. ”
http://www.gotquestions.org/seven-spirits-God.html
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For His own reasons the Lord God has chosen to make us instruments of His great plan.
What are some practical ways to explain the “He Who Is” (Psalm 24:10) description of the Lord God to someone unfamiliar with the Bible?
The Lord God repeats the story of Jesus, God incarnate, Who died in His flesh then was raised – the first of such under the new covenant created via the Cross.
What does your fellowship use as illustrations to teach about the sinless nature of Jesus and how His sacrifice could be for us?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an opportunity to improve one way that you, or perhaps your fellowship, places the Lord God first.
Today I will humbly and prayerfully pursue the opportunity identified by the Holy Spirit so that He may be lifted-up.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
“1:7 (Look! He is returning with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes on the earth will mourn because of him. This will certainly come to pass! Amen.)”
“1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God – the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come – the All-Powerful!”
Lord, You are, You have always been, and You will always be. I am, I was nothing before I belonged to You, and I look forward to what You will do in and with and through me.
“1:7 (Look! He is returning with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him,
and all the tribes on the earth will mourn because of him.
This will certainly come to pass! Amen.)”
John provided a checklist of details for the return of Jesus:
He is returning,
He is returning with the clouds (or perhaps upon the clouds),
every eye (faithful or not) will see Him,
even those who were hateful when He walked the earth will see him,
and all of the non-faithful “tribes” will mourn because they are of the world and not of Christ Whose “children” are not of this world.
“1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God – the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come – the All-Powerful!”
“Alpha” means beginning and “Omega” means end.
“... the one Who is” means that He is alive and is the “I Am that I Am” of the old testament (Exodus 3:14)
“... and Who was” means that He has always existed, before Adam and Eve, Abraham or Moses, even before He created time itself.
“... and Who is still to come” means not only the He will return but that He will remain present even after created-time is no longer necessary and eternity without time is shared with His children in Heaven.
“... the All-Powerful” is a reminder that no one and no thing may alter any of what He has declared.
When Jesus returns everyone will see Him, no one need worry that they will miss seeing Him, no one may imagine they might avoid or ignore Him.
Other than Exodus 3:14, what old testament text(s) come to mind where the Lord God described His attributes, especially His eternal existence and His limitless power?
For the scoffers and the rebels the return of Jesus will be sudden accountability – too late.
How does your fellowship help people to understand the reality of tine finality of the return of Jesus?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an opportunity to share this text with someone who needs to hear and to understand its meaning for them.
Today I will humbly and patiently share this text, encouraging questions (some of which I may need to ask for time to get answers for them, some of which I will be able to answer), and graciously accepting doubt and uncertainty from a teachable person who needs time to process what they have heard.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
1:9 I, John, your brother and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.
1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day when I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
1:11 saying: “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches – to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
Lord, You said earlier in his life that You had special plans for John; taking him up to Heaven to reveal additional detail of Your plans was far beyond anything he could have anticipated, and what he saw a challenge for any human to fully-comprehend. May I be in awe of You Lord, Your ways are not our ways, and You are – in Your fullness – not like us.
John wanted his readers to remember that he was their peer in faith and in challenges to his well-being because of his faith.
He acknowledged his ecstatic state – his spiritual self carried by the Holy Spirit to receive the Lord God’s message. It was a Biblically-unique event, none but John have visited Heaven and returned to tell about it.
John’s very first statement “a loud voice like a trumpet” illustrated what would be an ongoing challenge; how would he relate his experience when much of it was outside of his prior experience and outside of human verbiage.
His next report was of the instruction that he was to “Write in a book what you see ...”, a daunting task as he would have been terribly distracted and overwhelmed by his environment.
John’s final instruction, from the angel of the Lord, was to “... send it to the seven churches” - so that as he listened and watched he was to write what he was expected to then distribute.
John remained very humble, describing himself as a peer-believer, never presuming himself a superior as he (or at least his mother) has attempted while Jesus lived.
Imagine yourself in John’s shoes, how would you react?
John, once returned to awareness on the island of Patmos, needed to explain to his readers what had happened before they began reading the content.
When have you been in a very “foreign” environment? How did that impact your clarity of thought?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of a time in praise and worship, and/or Bible study, where you were so moved in the Spirit that you were almost out-of-body – like John.
Today I will spend some time in the Biblical text that most reminds me of the glory of the presence of the Lord, perhaps enhanced by praise and worship music that does the same. As I do so I will prayerfully prepare myself to be led through the book of Revelation by the Holy Spirit.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
1:12 I turned to see whose voice was speaking to me, and when I did so, I saw seven golden lampstands,
1:13 and in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man.
He was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet and he wore a wide golden belt around his chest.
1:14 His head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame.
1:15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
1:16 He held seven stars in his right hand,
and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth.
His face shone like the sun shining at full strength.
Lord, You are the Holy One, and You are the final power in the long battle (since the Fall) for humankind and for good and evil itself. May I, like John, be utterly-humbled as I ponder Your magnificence and stand awestruck.
As we observe John’s desperate effort to translate what he was seeing without any world-bound point of reference – he does his best to describe the indescribable.
The phrase “like a son of man” referred to a being who appeared to John in a humanoid form – more than that the text does not immediately specify.
The “lampstands” imagery of the “Church” (the family/body of believers) may also be translated as candlesticks which may be thought of in light of one of their key purposes – to be an instrument of the beacon/light of the Lord God's truth in a dark world.
How might your fellowship become a more-effective beacon/light of the Lord God's truth in your community?
The priests of the old testaments were a mere shadow of the Son.
When have you observed a local fellowship using the Lord God's truth to stand against cons, cults, and corrupting influences in a community?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an opportunity to stimulate your fellowship, or perhaps something He wants you to do individually, to stand against cons, cults, and/or corrupting influences in a community or in a smaller context.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to be my accountability and my prayer-partner as I stand for the Lord against those who may be misleading people, misrepresenting the Word, and/or promoting destructive beliefs and actions.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
1:17 When I saw him I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last,
1:18 and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive – forever and ever – and I hold the keys of death and of Hades!
“1:19 Therefore write what you saw, what is, and what will be after these things.”
Lord, You have shared with us Your power and Your grace, even despite our imperfection. May I be confident that You are both my accountability and my protector.
In verse 1:17 John made it clear that it was Jesus the Christ, in the fullness of the Son, with His glory returned in Whose presence he stood (in the his spiritual-state).
He reported that Jesus holds the keys to death-itself - His victory beyond the Cross.
John learned that our Lord also holds the keys to Hades/Sheol – the resting place of the unrighteous dead – further evidence of His power. [Note: He would later delegate those keys to an angel to secure the enemy for a time.]
Constables Notes observe that the “person” image among the symbolic lampstands is drawn from priestly images of Exod. 25:31-40, Zech. 4:2, 10, and Matt. 18:20 and the seven lampstands represent seven churches, drawn from Zech. 4:2-6 and was later clarified in Rev. 1:20.
Jesus directed John to record what he was seeing, later an angelic being would also instruct John what to leave out.
Do we have a right-sized sense of awe for the Lord God?
Knowing your own imperfections, and viewing His magnificence and perfection, can you imagine reacting any differently that John – falling down as dead?
One who holds this kind of power, and Who is this magnificent, voluntarily humbled Himself in order to purchase eternal freedom for His creation.
When have you paused to consider the incredible power of Satan, a fallen archangel, together with his legions of fallen angels – and then contemplated the power necessary to overwhelm them?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you something about the Lord God which will impact you in a new and awe-provoking way.
Today I will share what the Holy Spirit has shared, using the Word as a reference, and together will with praise and worship Him in prayer and testimony, and perhaps song.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
1:20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands is this:
The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Lord, many things about You are a mystery to humankind, but nothing of what we need to know and to understand to be saved, rightly-discipled, or to walk in-obedience. May I trust You to share with me what is needed and to keep from me what I cannot bear and/or cannot comprehend in this fallen flesh.
We have started this study slowly so as to build a careful foundation upon which to build our understanding of some very-challenging texts to follow. As we complete the first week of our eight-week study we continue to clarify some terms. Such will continue to be necessary, from time to time, as we work our way through the book.
There is “mystery” in the Bible, generally because fallen humankind simply lacks the capacity to comprehend certain heavenly-realities (often it’s our inadequacy before our awesome God), but there is never anything “magic” as that term is Biblically-reserved for activities associated with witchcraft.
Sometimes mysteries are revealed, as in the message of the Gospel prior to Jesus completing His work on the cross and afterwards, and now here as to the lampstands and the stars. The meaning here is not obvious to John, or to us, until explained by our Lord God.
The NET uses a group of similar words in NT to correctly express the result of their Greek-to-English translation in the context of the passage and as they anticipate the reader's comprehension of the English language (the numbers represent the frequency of usage of each term):
“church 71, churches 36, assembly 3, congregation 2, a church 1, of assembly 1”
“Definition: 1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly 1a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating 1b) the assembly of the Israelites 1c) any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously 1d) in a Christian sense 1d1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting 1d2) a company of Christians, or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their own affairs, according to regulations prescribed for the body for order's sake 1d3) those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are united into one body 1d4) the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth 1d5) the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven Synonym : See Definition 5897 from a compound of 1537 and a derivative of 2564; a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):-assembly, church.”
“angels 72, angel 63, an angel 18, of angels 4, angel's 3, messenger 3, messengers 3, An angel 2, Angels 1, a angel 1, a messenger 1, by angels 1, to angels 1, of an angel 1, informed 1, with angels 1”
“Definition: 1) a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God from aggello (probably derived from (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor:-angel, messenger.”
John wanted his readers to understand that there were angels assigned to each of the seven gatherings of believers. (Seven names will later be given to these gatherings.)
He wanted them to understand that “church” was not a building nor a human-formulated religious system, but rather any gathering of believers gathered for a God-honoring purpose.
Our Lord God will remain a partial mystery to us until we are make-new and in Heaven with Him.
In this first chapter of Revelation have you noticed how John used OT quotes, from his past knowledge, as “hook” for context and understanding of what he was seeing (and trying to describe to others) for the very first time?
Our Lord God has chosen not only to group His children into gatherings of seven, less so geographical (perhaps) and more-so according to predispositions toward certain sins and certain areas of righteousness (more on that as we proceed).
What is an example of God’s Word either clearly affirming the righteous conduct of a local fellowship or clearly chastising it for drifting away?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an opportunity to share the difference between “church” as is commonly used and “Church” as the Bible uses it.
Today I will respectfully share what I have learned so that others may turn their eyes first to our Lord God rather than to mere fellow-fallen humankind (and the religious institutions they have created). Not to disrespect or distance, necessarily, but to recognize that it is only our Lord Who is our “first love” and Who deserves our first loyalty.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study “Revelation – Section 1 of 8” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in May of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
2:1 To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write the following:
“This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who has a firm grasp on the seven stars in his right hand – the one who walks among the seven golden lampstands:
2:2 ‘I know your works as well as your labor and steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil.
You have even put to the test those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false.
2:3 I am also aware that you have persisted steadfastly, endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary.
2:4 But I have this against you: You have departed from your first love!
2:5 Therefore, remember from what high state you have fallen and repent!
Do the deeds you did at the first; if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place – that is, if you do not repent.
2:6 But you do have this going for you: You hate what the Nicolaitans practice – practices I also hate.
2:7 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the one who conquers, I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.'
Lord, You stand with those who stand with You, in steadfastness for truth. May I be found steadfast, a “good Berean” who tests everything against the Word, and bold to challenge carelessness and deception.
See explanations for “angel”, “stars”, and “lampstands” in the prior study of Revelation 1.
John was told to write to “the angel of the church”, rather than directly to “the church”, which was the body of believers gathered for the Lord God's purposes. There is much speculation as to the intent of the unusual phrase, the NET Translator's Greek notes allow it to refer to a messenger/pastor/spokesman – who would be responsible for delivering and explaining the message, which appears probable. It is also possible that He referred to the apostles, an alternative that better-helps to explain the text following.
As remains common today believers drifted away from the true gospel into extra-Biblical variations, preferring instead less challenging messages or less rigorous lifestyle expectations.
The Nicolatians's taught that one may freely sin, without regret, and still be saved.
The key leaders had to have been decisive and strong, as well as faithful to the Word (that which they had at the time), since they challenged false leaders – even those who claimed to be apostles. Those men may have been apostles and perhaps also “bishops”, e.g. Timothy, who had been directly-commissioned with authority over a region of fellowships.
Their “first love” was expressed through undivided attention to the Lord God Who had delivered to them salvation and the Holy Spirit and Whom they had served unreservedly. They, messenger, pastor, apostle, or bishop, bore the highest of responsibility before the Lord God (see James 3:1), so the threat to their standing – should they fail to meet His standard - was consistent.
Since the church was new and under attack it was critical that key leaders demanded strict adherence to the Word of God or else the foundation of the church would be weak or destroyed.
The reference to their common dislike for the false-teaching of the Nicolatians's implied that they were not truly at-risk and the reminder of His desire to give to them the eternal-life from the fruit in the Garden was an encouragement.
The early church was under withering-attack from a frantic enemy who used a variety of weak people in his evil effort to sabotage.
What are some practical ways to disciple believers to keep the Lord God, and His priorities, as their “first live”?
The spiritual health and Biblical felicity of leaders within fellowships, and even of families, remains critical.
What is an example of someone trying to bring a Nicolatian-like teaching into your community and/or your fellowhip?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you some ways that you may have drifted, perhaps to rationalize a sin, perhaps just allowing yourself to be “captured” by “the tyranny of the urgent” (in a worldly rather than a Biblical sense).
Today I am choosing to ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement and to walk with me as I intentionally realign my priorities to those of the Lord God.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
To the Church in Smyrna
2:8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but came to life:
2:9 ‘I know the distress you are suffering and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know the slander against you by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
2:10 Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. The devil is about to have some of you thrown into prison so you may be tested, and you will experience suffering for ten days. Remain faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown that is life itself.
2:11 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will in no way be harmed by the second death.’
To the Church in Pergamum
12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who has the sharp double-edged sword:
2:13 ‘I know where you live – where Satan’s throne is. Yet you continue to cling to my name and you have not denied your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed in your city where Satan lives.
2:14 But I have a few things against you: You have some people there who follow the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.
2:15 In the same way, there are also some among you who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
2:16 Therefore, repent! If not, I will come against you quickly and make war against those people with the sword of my mouth.
2:17 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give him some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on that stone will be written a new name that no one can understand except the one who receives it.’
Lord, You understand the struggles we have in this dark and fallen world, and You stand ready to represent for those who have surrendered all to You in response to Your invitation through Your Gospel. May I be encouraged and strengthened, hope-filled and humbled by all that You have done for me.
Jesus acknowledged, to the leaders of the Church in Smyrna, the wealth of their love versus their worldly poverty.
He warned them of the persecution to come and encouraged them to persevere.
Jesus affirmed the assurance of their salvation “... no way be harmed by the second death.”
To the Church in Pergamum He said ‘I know where you live – where Satan’s throne is”. Jesus was assuring them that He understood they were dealing with a world in which Satan is Prince (temporarily), and they they were challenged every day – in their local case the enemy apparently had a strong foothold.
Jesus challenged them to put-out those among them who promoted the false sin-is-OK-under-grace teaching.
There has been much speculation about the “hidden manna” and the “white stone” in verse 2:17; given the NET Greek translation notes this author takes the meaning to be the Word (revealed by the Holy Spirit), imparted-righteousness (royal-robes of white in Heaven), and Jesus as their advocate and propitiation at the Great White Throne Judgment.
The wealth we have in the promise of Heaven, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the comfort of fellow-believers is far more valuable than anything this temporary world can offer.
What are some practical ways to help fellow believers to understand the reality of Satan in the world all around us, without drifting into an obsession with evil or into silly superstitions?
Jesus not only provided our path to salvation, the Lord sees us clothed in white through Him, and He stands ready to speak for us at the Great White Throne Judgment.
When have you experienced, or observed, the obvious attack of the enemy against a believer?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you some who needs encouragement as they confront false teaching or an attack from the enemy.
Today I will pray in-agreement and in-earnest for the one identified to me by the Lord and, as is appropriate, I will offer to walk alongside them through the challenge in other ways.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
“2:18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write the following:
“This is the solemn pronouncement of the Son of God, the one who has eyes like a fiery flame and whose feet are like polished bronze:
2:19 ‘I know your deeds: your love, faith, service, and steadfast endurance. In fact, your more recent deeds are greater than your earlier ones.
2:20 But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and by her teaching deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
2:21 I have given her time to repent, but she is not willing to repent of her sexual immorality.
2:22 Look! I am throwing her onto a bed of violent illness, and those who commit adultery with her into terrible suffering, unless they repent of her deeds.
2:23 Furthermore, I will strike her followers with a deadly disease, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay each one of you what your deeds deserve.
2:24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, all who do not hold to this teaching (who have not learned the so-called “deep secrets of Satan”), to you I say: I do not put any additional burden on you.
2:25 However, hold on to what you have until I come.”
“2:26 And to the one who conquers and who continues in my deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations –
2:27 he will rule them with an iron rod and like clay jars he will break them to pieces,
2:28 just as I have received the right to rule from my Father – and I will give him the morning star.
2:29 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Lord, You want to deliver a righteous and victorious church, yet humankind is constantly attacked by the promoters of unrighteousness – from the inside and outside. May I be encouraged by Your patient love and be willing to stand against those who seek to diminish and destroy Your church.
The “Son of God” appeared to John with what he loosely-described as “eyes like a fiery flame” and with “feet like polished brass”; therefore, His glory was apparent to John in his spiritual state and His foundation “feet” gave the appearance of the strength of metal and the quality of well-crafted and well cared for metal found in the possession of earthly royalty/wealth.
Jesus congratulated them for standing their ground in His name.
He challenged them for starting to drift because they were tolerating bad teaching and behavior – spawned by Jezebel.
Jesus returned to His teaching that depravity and false teaching must be purged and warned that He was going to send disease to her and spread it from her to those who engaged in sinful conduct with her.
Note: Jezebel may have been a symbol for the same sort of teaching as the Nicolaitans, who were mentioned in warnings to the other communities.
Jesus prophesied suffering and trouble for those who engage in witchcraft the “deep secrets of satan”.
He promised that the faithful will in the very last days rule with Him as He dismantled the pagan nations. (The NET Translators's notes observe that this is a partial reference to Psalm 2:8-9.)
Jesus drew a spiritual parallel to His partnership with the faithful as they break down the strongholds of sin in their lives and promised to deliver His church as “the morning star”.
Jesus emphasized avoidance of false teaching, be it the toleration of sin or all the way into witchcraft.
What are some some practical ways to identify and remove philosophies which promote the toleration of sin and witchcraft in your local fellowship without become legalistic? (Begin with ways to compare and contrast individual and fellowship lifestyles that reflect purity and righteousness versus excuses for constantly testing the threshold of over sin or folding-in elements of other religions – none of which are compatible with Biblical Christianity.)
How different are we than those discussed? Are we not also prone to tolerate the profane, on television, the Internet, music, movies, art, and even in our fellowhips?
What is an example from your life, or fellowship, where excuses for sin and/or witchcraft had drifted in and how you were successful in purging those influences?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one or more subtle, or not so subtle, ways that the toleration of sin and/or witchcraft has entered your life and/or that of your fellowship.
Today I agree to partner with a fellow believer, and the Holy Spirit, to fearlessly purge those things from my life – and as is appropriate and possible to challenge them in my fellowship - as all of them offensive to our Lord God.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
To the Church in Sardis
3:1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars:
‘I know your deeds, that you have a reputation that you are alive, but in reality you are dead.”
“3:2 Wake up then, and strengthen what remains that was about to die, because I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.”
“3:3 Therefore, remember what you received and heard, and obey it, and repent.
If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come against you.”
“3:4 But you have a few individuals in Sardis who have not stained their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy.
3:5 The one who conquers will be dressed like them in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will declare his name before my Father and before his angels.
3:6 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'”
Lord, you warn us that a partial surrender to You is inadequate, it is all or nothing at all – and for those who have clearly heard there is no excuse at all. May I not only be a willing instrument of the fruits of the Spirit may I also be bold in challenging others to do the same.
Jesus warned that there were many who heard the gospel and pretended to surrender but had not, and therefore they were not saved – and were facing His sudden wrath.
What was left of their original response to truth, left un-nurtured (never quite where it could have resulted in saving faith), was to be seized upon and nurtured before it died and they were completely alienated from God.
Jesus used the term “repent”, which means to turn away – in this case from all of the things of the world.
He then returned to His teaching that He will return unannounced and those who remain “asleep”, without having secured their salvation, will be lost.
Jesus acknowledged the presence of a sub-population within the community who were truly saved and described how He saw them, dressed in white like Him, their salvation secure.
Do we have a clear and present sense of the imminence of the return of the Lord, including our limited lifespan (which could end at any moment), after which nothing can be done?
How might your fellowship do a better job in clarifying the elements of a genuine personal salvation (absolute surrender)?
How different are we from those described in Revelation – are we also guilty of holding-back from a complete surrender – and do we understand the risks?
When have you hear the truth about salvation as absolute surrender preached/taught and what was the reaction?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life, or in that of another, where you are holding-back from absolute surrender to the Lord God.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement for me to get right with the Lord, and/or for the same in the walk of one whom the Holy Spirit has revealed to me, and humbly we will do whatever it takes to become His completely.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
“To the Church in Philadelphia
3:7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open:
3:8 ‘I know your deeds. (Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut.)
I know that you have little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name.”
“3:9 Listen! I am going to make those people from the synagogue of Satan – who say they are Jews yet are not, but are lying – Look, I will make them come and bow down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.”
“3:10 Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
3:11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away your crown.
3:12 The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never depart from it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from my God), and my new name as well.
3:13 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Lord, You see past our facades, nothing is hidden from You. May I be found steadfastly devoted to You, striving to resist allowing tests to become temptations and then volitional sin – with strength from Your Holy Spirit.
Jesus recognizes our weakness and promises that if we choose the path of faith-guided truth He will hold open the door to Heaven and no created-being can ever close it to us.
It is unclear why the NET Translator's chose to be unclear in the rendering of 3:9, where it reads “ I am going to make those people ...” the NET Greek Notes allow it to read “I am going to humble (or strike) those people ...”, which would appear a more-complete and still-accurate rendering.
Jesus condemned the religious leaders when on earth because their misrepresentations of God. He did so again in 2:9 “... synagogue of Satan” refers to those who have become tools of Satan because their teaching had drifted so far from the truth and their hearts had paralleled the perversity of their leadership.
Jesus acknowledged their steadfastness and warned them that challenges were to come.
His warning about their “crown” being at risk refers to their efforts to faithfully evangelize and disciple others being thwarted by lies, not their salvation at risk. [We know this to be His intent because in 1Cor. 10:13 He says that those who are saved cannot be deceived so greatly that they can lose their salvation and Paul referred to his “crown” as those He had evangelized and discipled (Phil. 4:1 and 1 Thess. 2:14).]
Jesus does not expect us to be perfect, the Bible does not teach works-righteousness, nor does it anticipate flawless-righteousness in our Fallen bodies. [This is why we must be “made new” at the threshold to Heaven.]
How could your fellowship strike a clearer balance between advocating that all believers seek-after righteousness and yet avoid drifting into legalistic prescriptions for impossible sin-free perfect lives?
The Lord has repeatedly made examples of false teachers, humbling them before those who had clung to right doctrine, but others have risen in their place.
When have you observed a leader who, despite attack, stood his ground on the Word and persevered to victory?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a challenge for which you must prepare, one where your clarity will help you to assist others to resist confusion and/or panic.
Today I will prayerfully study the Word as I am discipled by the Holy Spirit, as necessary I will consult one who meets the Biblical standard of “elder” for clarification, and I will ask a fellow believer to walk alongside in prayer and study – together we will prepare and together we will come alongside others as they accept the need to prepare as well.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
“To the Church in Laodicea
3:14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation:
3:15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot!
3:16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth!”
“3:17 Because you say, “I am rich and have acquired great wealth, and need nothing,”
but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked,
3:18 take my advice and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich!
Buy from me white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will not be exposed,
and buy eye salve to put on your eyes so you can see!”
Lord, You are the source of authority for all truth, and You desire that we live in that truth. May be certain to be unafraid of truth, unwilling to to compromise truth to avoid conflict, and cautious to avoid the idolatry of money.
The term “Amen” generally means “I believe” or perhaps “I understand and agree” but may also mean “the truth”. In this context it may be understood to refer to the One Who gives authority to truth.
Jesus wants everyone to be engaged with the challenges of truth and of righteous living.
His frustration with the Laodiceans was their avoidance of a decision – making them unteachable.
We are taught elsewhere that the Lord God “is no respecter of persons”, which means that He cares not for our worldly possessions or titles, only for the condition of our hearts.
Jesus warned repeatedly of the distractions of money and worldly pursuits.
The Lord God is the source of all truth and the authority behind that truth.
How do we teach believers to be confident in their faith when the world wants them to sell-out in order to fit-in?
Sometimes those who are most comfortable in their worldly state are also the least teachable.
When have you observed someone for whom wealth was a wall that separated them recognizing their need for Jesus?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any place in your walk, or in the teaching of your fellowship, where conflict-avoidance has become truth-avoidance.
Today I will humbly and prayerfully surrender myself, and/or challenge my fellowship, to sacrifice comfort and temporary peace for the sake of truth.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
3:19 All those I love, I rebuke and discipline.
So be earnest and repent!
3:20 Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me.
3:21 I will grant the one who conquers permission to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
3:22 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Lord, You love us as You find us – here in this Fallen world – and as someone once said “You love us too much to leave us this way”. May I respond when You knock on the door of my heart, let You in, and cooperate as You make me just a little more like You.
When He walked the earth Jesus dined with the poor and the rich alike that His saving message might be made known to all.
When He sent out His disciples He instructed them to only stay at the home of one who welcomed both them and their message from Him.
Jesus is ready to walk alongside those who are teachable.
The consistent message of Jesus is that there are conditions for admittance into Heaven. Ones salvation is an unconditional surrender of everything in this world in exchange for everything good in Heaven - for eternity.
What are some practical ways to challenge people to assess their salvation and to redouble their efforts to bring the gift and assurance of salvation to the eternally dead and dying all around them?
How different are we Reflect upon the anger of Jesus at Christians who become careless about their lifestyle and/or who neglect His Greatest Commandment to love and His Great Commission to “go forth” because of His love poured into and through them intended to bless others. Reflect also upon His anger at the false teachers who assert authority using His name but who then promote legalism and tradition in place of grace and truth.
What is an example from your life where you found yourself becoming careless or neglectful about your Biblical-Christian walk? How did the Lord God guide you back to the right path?
Ask the Holy Spirit to assess your life for any evidence of carelessness in your lifestyle or neglect of love for your fellow believers and/or evangelism and discipleship.
Today I will select an area where I fall short and I will partner with the Holy Spirit, and a prayer partner, as He guides me back onto the right path.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – “Revelation” Section - “Rev. 2-3” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in May of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The Amazing Scene in Heaven
4:1 After these things I looked, and there was a door standing open in heaven!
And the first voice I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet
said: “Come up here so that I can show you what must happen after these things.””
4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit,
and a throne was standing in heaven with someone seated on it!
4:3 And the one seated on it was like jasper and carnelian in appearance,
and a rainbow looking like it was made of emerald encircled the throne.
Lord, You are the only one worthy of a throne, all others are pretenders. May I stand in awe of You, may You always be my first love, and may I worship You alone.
While it was clear that the first voice John heard in Rev. 1-3 was that of Jesus it is now less clear if the voice continues to be that of Jesus or if is of an angel – it is not necessary to know because The Lord God was in complete control.
Since thrones are reserved for kings it would be reasonable to postulate that the One on the throne was either God the Father or God the Son, both are described elsewhere in the Bible as sitting on a throne.
It is apparent that John is struggling to describe what he is observing “in the Spirit” using his limited worldly experience – observe that he uses the qualifier “...like” twice.
Interpreting the description of the “stones” and of the “rainbow” is somewhat speculative but each may represent an attribute of God.
The joy that Consider the awe-inspiring and spiritually overwheming experience of John. Thank God for allowing him to share his experience with us so that we might have a small taste of the glory of Heaven that awaits.
What are the times and places where you have sensed the most-powerful presence of the Lord God?
The Lord God chooses to share His kingdom leadership with His creation. The character of the Lord God always amazes!
What is a practical example of a time when in worship, in song, in prayer, in the sharing of testimonies, or otherwise where the Lord God made His presence especially clear to you – maybe even in a sort of dream or vision. How were you assured that it was really of-God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone with whom you should share this text.
Today I will share this text with a fellow believer, to either prayerfully reflect upon it together, perhaps reading also Ezekiel Chapter 1, or perhaps spending some time in prayer and song as a way of joining the description of endless worship in the text.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
4:4 In a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns on their heads.
4:5 From the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne
4:6a and in front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal.
4:6b In the middle of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
4:7 The first living creature was like a lion,
the second creature like an ox,
the third creature had a face like a man’s,
and the fourth creature looked like an eagle flying.
Lord, You exist in a realm that humankind is incapable of fully-comprehending, and You have taught us that Your “... ways are not our ways”. May I be in awe of You, may I never try to force my concept of You into a man-sized box, and may my worship be guided by an ever-deepening sense of humility.
We may only speculate who these “elders” were. The NT teaches that Jesus will appoint believers to rule with Him. The term elder is only used in reference to humans, not angels.
According to the Greek Translator's Notes the term “crowns” may refer to a symbol of royal rank or may be a synonym for the eternal blessedness for ones faithfulness.
The “seven spirits” are associated with the “seven lampstands” which were defined by John in Rev. 1:20 as the “seven churches” (sub-groups within the body of believers).
Given John's ecstatic state, and his unfamiliarity with much of what he was observing, “... flashes of lightning and roaring and crashes of thunder” while “in the spirit” is difficult to interpret; the NET translator's suggest that “sounds” or “voices” may also be acceptable renderings of the Greek in this context. He later prefaces another description with “something like”, indicating a continuing lack of descriptive precision.
“Lion” is a synonym of great strength.
“Ox” is synonym of new or young as in a sprout or a calf.
Man-face is synonym for some element, perhaps the partial likeness fo God in, humankind.
The flying-eagle is a synonym for purposeful action or purpose.
The NET translators propose that “In the middle of the throne ...” may also be translated “in the throne area”. A similar description of the “four” is found in Ezekiel 1:5 and following.
The Lord God is not like us, His dwelling place is nothing like anything we have ever see, and the inseparable physical-spiritual nature of the beings around Him are manifestations we cannot comprehend.
What other verses in the Bible come to mind when you read the descriptions of God and/or the various “creatures” and “elders” and their surroundings?
The Lord God chose to reveal this surreal imagery to us for a reason – He wants us to understand the vast difference between Heaven and earth.
When have you experienced a sense of awe about the Lord God as you read a description of Him in His Word?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you something about the Lord God that you have misundestood or misrepresented, perhaps as the result of careless teaching, and all because someone tried to reduce Him to a simplicity that humankind can comprehend.
Today I will ask the Holy Spirit to show me where I need to just stand in awe of the Lord God, where I need to understand, and to bring alongside me a person or persons (Biblically-qualified as elders) to be a resource when I need clarification and confirmation.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
4:8 Each one of the four living creatures had six wings and was full of eyes all around and inside.
They never rest day or night,
saying: “Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God,
the All-Powerful,
Who was
and who is,
and who is still to come!”
Lord, You Were, You Are, and You will always Be, and yet You choose to love me. May I be ever-amazed, ever-humbled, ever-worshipful of my awesome Lord God!
This heavenly image of worship, submission to the only One worthy of worship no matter what is ones earthly or heavenly title, the identity of God as Creator, and His identity as sustainer of all things is consistent with the rest of the Bible.
The Lion, synonym of great strength, the Ox, synonym of new or young as in a sprout or a calf, the man-face, synonym for some element - perhaps the partial likeness of God in humankind, and the flying-eagle, a synonym for purposeful action or purpose are proclaiming the immeasurable holiness of the Lord God. One may well take this to be synonymous for all of creation.
The phrase “Who was ...” was a reminder that the Lord God exists beyond linear time, which He created for humankind, and therefore He existed prior to it.
The phrase “... who is” was to remind that He is present with us.
The phrase “... who is still to come!” was to remind us that in linear time the Lord will return for His and to just everyone who ever lived, and then will come the end to linear time (and everything bound to it), as the children of God join Him in timeless eternity.
Do we have right-sized view of the enormity of the majesty of the Lord God?
How would you explain the difference between God's creation, contained inside linear time – which He created for that purpose, and God – who exists apart from His creation?
When a human demands worship, which no human ever should, it is unlike the worship of heavenly beings – created for that solitary purpose – but is, rather, to feed the ego of a pitiful fallen creature.
When have you observed the fruits of a person who demanded worship – something reserved for the Lord God alone?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a renewed sense of wonder that our magnificent Lord God loves you.
Today I will share my wonder and gratitude for the Lord's love with a fellow believer, and/or someone considering Christ.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
4:9 And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
4:10 the twenty-four elders throw themselves to the ground before the one who sits on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and they offer their crowns before his throne, saying:
4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, since you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created!”
Lord, You are worthy! May I remember that every time I review my calendar and my checkbook to assess my priorities.
There is some discussion as to who are, or what is represented, by the twenty-four elders.
One suggestion is they are the four Heavenly creatures, each with six wings, but such appears to be precluded by the implied controlling-conditional in the text; “whenever the living creatures ...” [then] “… the twenty-four elders”.
Another suggestion is that the twenty-four elders represent a “heavenly Sanhedrin”, but the traditional full Sanhedrin was seventy-one and the so-called “small Sanhedrin” was twenty-three.
A third suggestion is that they represent the spiritual “courses” of twenty-four that were offered by the priests.
In either case the important point is that the Lord God is praised by every being in Heaven, whether angelic or somehow associated with humankind.
Honor is due to the One who sits on the throne, Who exists eternally, and Who created.
Do we give glory, honor, and thanks to the Lord God daily?
How might this daily pattern of worship be replicated in the lives of Christians without it becoming a meaningless ritual?
When have you observed Christian leaders humbling themselves before the Lord God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a way that you may be more intentional about the worship of the Lord God daily.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to hold me accountable, and to pray in-agreement for protection, as I begin a consistent daily time of worship for the Lord God.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Opening of the Scroll
5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and back and sealed with seven seals.
5:2 And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?”
5:3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it.
5:4 So I began weeping bitterly because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
5:5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered; thus he can open the scroll and its seven seals.
Lord, the scroll was a necessary element in Your great plan of cleansing and redemption, and You- alone were worthy to stand in the gap and to move it along. May I stand in awe of You, recognize that You are the only way to Heaven, and share that with others.
It is apparent that the One on the throne is not Jesus, which is a clarification of the lack of specificity in the earlier chapter.
The “powerful angel” would presumably be one of the rare beings referred to also as “archangels”.
The “scroll” contained the necessary instructions to move through the final stages of the fulfillment of the redemption of the children of God.
The One Who could open and read it had to meet, perfectly, the requirements of the Law on behalf of those to whom the scrolls content applied.
In Heaven things proceed in perfect order.
Where else in the Bible have you read about “archangels”?
In his spirit John had been given an awareness of the importance of the scroll.
When have you had to await someone with the authority to act so that a critical next step in an important process might be taken?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where you fit, in a series of His steps, so that you may be His instrument.
Today I will humbly pray and listen, read the Word and consult a mature and prayerful fellow Biblical-Christian, to discern then follow where the Holy Spirit has directed.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
5:6 Then I saw standing in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures,
and in the middle of the elders,
a Lamb that appeared to have been killed.
He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”
“5:7 Then he came and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne,
5:8 and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the ground before the Lamb.
Each of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense (which are the prayers of the saints).”
“5:9 They were singing a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were killed,
and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation.”
“5:10 You have appointed them as a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
Lord, You made Yourself into the lamb Who was slain, and You created the opportunity for humankind to be redeemed from the error of Eden. May I join in Your praise!
The word-picture varies but the theme is consistent. The “seven” are the “churches” to whom Jesus was speaking through the “seven spirits” in the earlier chapters of Revelation.
Note that “... the prayers of the saints”, all believers, are collected by God.
The “reign” of those “purchased” would not begin until a while later in the process, see Rev. 20:4, and that reign will last for 1,000 years.
The intent of the enemy was to lead the religious leaders and foolish people into killing Jesus so as to prevent Him from creating redemption, and by extension, to prevent the gathering of the Church.
How might it impact the prayers of Biblical-Christians in your fellowship if they visualized their prayers as incense in the throne-room of the Lord God?
The “twenty-four elders” had “harps” (musical instruments) and were singing praise and worship in the throne-room of the Lord God.
When have you heard that your prayers were as-incense in the throne-room of the Lord God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a prayer that He especially loves to hear from you.
Today I will set aside some time to read the Word, reflect on my relationship with the Lord, and to lift heartfelt prayers as I feel led.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
5:11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders.
Their number was ten thousand times ten thousand – thousands times thousands –
5:12 all of whom were singing in a loud voice:
“Worthy is the lamb who was killed to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and praise!”
5:13 Then I heard every creature – in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them – singing: “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power forever and ever!”
5:14 And the four living creatures were saying “Amen,”
and the elders threw themselves to the ground and worshiped.
Lord, You need no praise or worship, but Your creation needs a one true and perfect Lord God to know pure love and meaning. May I draw nearer to You every day and in every way.
As is described as “too numerous to count” elsewhere is the point of the “... ten thousand times ten thousand – thousands times thousands” text.
“Worthy is the lamb ...” is a repeated theme of Revelation.
“Every creature ...” sang praise and worship of and to Him.
The “... four living creatures”, who we discussed previously, agreed with “Amen”.
The elders, previously numbered as twenty-four and described, humbled themselves by bowing.
Do we have the awe and reverence for God by all beings. Note that Jesus allows Himself to be worshiped, therefore He must be God; yet another affirmation of the Trinity.
What might it mean to a watching fellowship for the spiritual leaders to be more visibly humble in their public praise and worship?
The Lord God is consistent; a Messiah was always necessary, once He pronounced the righteous-curse and the grace-filled provision of redemption in the Garden. Only He could be our intercessor.
When have you experienced a moment of awe which caused you to stop and worship Him?
Ask the Holy Spirit to touch my heart in a special way so that I am drawn-near and gently-humbled before Him.
Today am choosing to pause and to pray several times, knowing that God not only hears my prayers, but that He gathers them up together with those of all “saints” (believers) like incense.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – “Revelation” Section – Revelation 4 – 5 – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in June of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The Seven Seals
6:1 I looked on when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a thunderous voice, “Come!”
6:2 So I looked, and here came a white horse!
The one who rode it had a bow, and he was given a crown, and as a conqueror he rode out to conquer.
6:3 Then when the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!”
6:4 And another horse, fiery red, came out,
and the one who rode it was granted permission to take peace from the earth, so that people would butcher one another, and he was given a huge sword.
Lord, the tribulation of living in a fallen world is a reality for many, yet the “great tribulation” is yet to come. May I face the daily tribulations with my eyes on You for comfort, guidance, power, and wisdom.
It is interesting that while Jesus open the seals it was one of the four creatures who spoke the instruction to the horseman inside.
There is some debate as to the identity of the “conqueror”; tradition has wanted to identify it as Jesus, but the larger context argues strongly for Satan – coming as an angel of light but intent upon conquest for his own sake versus conquest for the purpose of justice. The NET Translators Notes observe that the phrase used for “conqueror” in the original language differs from that used in cases referring to Jesus or to believers.
And element of this tribulation to come would be the killing, perhaps murder, of many at the hands of their fellow humans.
The joy that believers are not spared from the Tribulation, the Lord God allows us to remain to testify for the sake of the still-teachable unsaved.
What are some of the ways that “conquer” may be realized in the lives of humans?
The conqueror was given a crown, indicating permission from the Lord God, and His authority – but also under His control.
What does your fellowship teach about the great tribulation? What about the troubles that have come against various groups of people in various regions of the earth in the time since Jesus returned to heaven (the “end times”)?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a person or group of people for whom He wants you to pray as they are facing a “tribulation”.
Today I will pray and will ask at least one fellow believer to pray in-agreement as the Holy Spirit has led.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
6:5 Then when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!”
So I looked, and here came a black horse!
The one who rode it had a balance scale in his hand.
6:6 Then I heard something like a voice from among the four living creatures saying,
“A quart of wheat will cost a day’s pay and three quarts of barley will cost a day’s pay.
But do not damage the olive oil and the wine!”
6:7 Then when the Lamb opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!”
6:8 So I looked and here came a pale green horse!
The name of the one who rode it was Death, and Hades followed right behind.
They were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword, famine, and disease, and by the wild animals of the earth.
Lord, You will allow the course of Your perfect justice to flow, but You set limits and You gather-in those who are Yours. May I never doubt Your love and protection such that I will never be overwhelmed, so long as I rest in You, and am certain that I will never be destroyed.
The choice between more barley for the same as less wheat describes a choice between quantity and quality – though according to some commentaries a days pay (a denarius) would be a very steep price – typical of disaster or wartime.
Olive oil was used in cooking, in religious rituals, and it was burned with a wick for light.
It may also have been used on the body and hair but not in the raw form for anointing.(Exodus 30:26-33 describes the unique oil-based recipe for anointing.)
Wine was used to cover the bitter taste of water and was part of both celebrations and religious rituals.
This is the Tribulation and believers are not spared.
It is a time when everyone is confronted by the consequences of the lifted-hand of protection of the Lord God and are pressed to choose where they will stand; with Job's wife “Curse God and die?” or with Job who, despite some confusion, refused to disrespect his Lord.
Death rides a light green horse and is followed by Hades, their realm for killing is limited, they are called forth but are not immediately released.
The circumstances of the tribulation are challenging at every level, a shortage of resources, spiritual attack, and constant challenges to health and safety.
What are some practical ways to help people to comprehend the desperate circumstances of the tribulation? Perhaps illustrations from regions of the world where Christians already face most of these challenges.
The Lord God requires certain boundaries “do not damage the olive oil and the wine”.
When have you been challenged because of your faith? Perhaps in a non-Christian home, in school, or in the workplace.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a challenge that is coming, or that may soon-escalate.
Today I will ask the Holy Spirit to give me comfort, strength, and wisdom to face what is to come. I will also ask a fellow Biblical-Christian to pray in-agreement with me and to be an accountability partner and an encourager.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
“6:9 Now when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given.
6:10 They cried out with a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Master, holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?”
6:11 Each of them was given a long white robe
and they were told to rest for a little longer, until the full number was reached of both their fellow servants and their brothers who were going to be killed just as they had been.
Lord, You honor those who cling to Your name, even at the sacrifice of their earthly lives. May my faith grow and remain strong daily so that I also will stand no matter the cost.
The faith of those described was solid as they were killed because of it.
Their sense of justice was also intact as they inquired of the Lord God when, not if, He intended to exercise His sovereign justice.
Since believers are still on earth and are being killed this must still be the Tribulation, prior to the Wrath, and the number of those to be killed – specifically for their faith – was not yet complete.
Looking ahead in Revelation to vs 6:17 we learn that this is prior to the Wrath of God. The Rapture cannot have occurred prior to the Tribulation.
There is an oddity here, not actively addressed in our prior Revelation Notes – we are seeing a unique subset of believers in a conscious state – presumably these a special few who have been called for this specific role – apart from the majority who are “asleep”.
Those who had been killed suffered specifically because of their steadfast faith.
Do we have practical ways to prepare to endure trouble and to resist the temptation from the Enemy to convert a test – designed to strengthen and empower – into a temptation to rebel against God?
The call for justice was not selfish, those who were given white robes had already sacrificed everything, their cries for justice were born of their desire to see an end to the fallen world and the birth of “a new heaven and earth” and perfection with the Lord God.
When have you heard it explained that the Lord God tarries in His return for lack of sufficient martyrs?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where your faith is especially vulnerable to worldly threats.
Today I will prayerfully acknowledge my weakness, I will ask a fellow believer to be my accountability and prayer-partner as I allow the Holy Spirit to heal and mature me.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
6:12 Then I looked when the Lamb opened the sixth seal,
and a huge earthquake took place;
the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair,
and the full moon became blood red;
6:13 and the stars in the sky fell to the earth like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when shaken by a fierce wind.
6:14 The sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up,
and every mountain and island was moved from its place.
6:15 Then the kings of the earth, the very important people, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
6:16 They said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb,
6:17 because the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”
Lord, the time will come when Your patience wears thin and You conclude things. May I stand confidently before Jesus, not because of my righteousness, but because of His in my stead.
John was struggling to describe apocalyptic imagery. Also, events were being previewed for John and were not actually happening, in linear time, as he was seeing them – they were being viewed from a perspective outside of time.
Matthew 27:45-56 described similar events of darkness, earthquake, a torn veil, etc., but this went beyond those events; adding a red full moon, falling stars, and moving mountains and islands – the magnitude was massive.
In the timeline of future (linear time) events the Tribulation was almost over, then the believers would be set-apart by the Lord God (see Rev. 7), and only then would the full Wrath of God be poured out on those who had rejected Jesus, persecuted His children, and had asked to be kept-apart from the Lordship (and love) of God.
Worldly standing was rendered meaningless as the imminent arrival of Jesus terrified those who had chosen the idolatry of worldly things, be it fame, fortune, and power, or bitterness, lust or human-tradition, rather than the only One worthy of worship.
John was seeing a preview of the end of the world, one may wonder how well he comprehended what he was seeing, and how much he was distracted from the overwhelming emotion of that by the necessity of recording things per instructions.
How might you help fellow believers to conceptualize the series of events up to this moment in John's report?
What kind of hardness of heart exists that, even in the midst of the Tribulation, some will refuse the Lord's invitation to Heaven?
When have you an example of a disaster where poor and rich alike recognized their common bond of powerlessness and need?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the patterns of your response to trouble – do you tend to try to make it through only using you own strength?
Today I will partner with the Holy Spirit as I move toward a greater dependence upon Him – so that when trouble comes I will naturally allow Him to be my strength and will also be ready to be used by Him to encourage and testify.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Sealing of the 144,000
7:1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth,
holding back the four winds of the earth so no wind could blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.
7:2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east,
who had the seal of the living God.
He shouted out with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given permission to damage the earth and the sea:
7:3 “Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees until we have put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
7:4 Now I heard the number of those who were marked with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed from all the tribes of the people of Israel:
7:5 From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand,
7:6 from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand,
7:7 from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand,
7:8 from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand,
from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.
Lord, while You will allow destruction to purge Your fallen-creation, You will first protect those whom You have set-apart for Your special purposes. May I trust that You are omnipotent, perfectly just, and filled with grace – loving me despite my failures – keeping me for the day that You bring me home, purified of all unrighteousness.
The “four winds” here is similar to that of Daniel 7:2. The prior Revelation texts described forces poised to bring all manner of destruction, political, economic, health, and weather. Here they are held-back prior to God's special “seal” being administered.
There is considerable discussion as to the literal or figurative meaning of this text; does this literally mean only genetic and/or legal descendants of these tribes, or does this refer to the spiritual descendants of the faithful of these tribes? Perhaps it refers to “completed” or saved Jews? The answer to these questions is not critical to salvation, or to the righteous living of believers before the Lord God, so it is not appropriate to explore in greater detail in this survey-type Study.
It is worthy of note that in the following text there are many others not so “sealed” who are described as “dressed in white” and “sheltered” by God – proving the notion that the number of 144,000 represents “the only saved people” (as touted by some cults) is invalid.
The is an impending doom for those who have rejected the salvation of Jesus.
What are some differences between the text of Revelation and what pop-theology teaches?
Be amazed at the way that the Lord God stops everything, to seal and shelter those who are His, prior to pouring out His Wrath upon the earth.
What is an example of believers, or at least people who claim to be believers, whose faith is shallow because they believe that they will not only avoid the Tribulation but even avoid serious trouble in their day to day lives? What happens to their “faith” when trouble comes?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone He wants to reach with you as His instrument.
Today I will share these texts with someone who is confused about the last days of the End Times so that they are not living a shallow and weak life which will be easily overwhelmed when trouble comes.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
7:9 After these things I looked, and here was an enormous crowd that no one could count,
made up of persons from every nation, tribe, people, and language,
standing before the throne and before the Lamb dressed in long white robes,
and with palm branches in their hands.
7:10 They were shouting out in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
7:11 And all the angels stood there in a circle around the throne
and around the elders and the four living creatures,
and they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground before the throne and worshiped God,
7:12 saying, “Amen! Praise and glory, and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
Lord, it is inconceivable to mere humankind what it will be like to be in Your presence, so we are grateful for the glimpse You gave to John to share with us. May I practice now the giving of honor and worship to You that will be so much a part of eternity.
The “an enormous crowd that no one could count” is encouraging as is the fact that every nation, tribe, people, and language will be present.
Note, not every philosophy or religion but every nation, tribe, people, and language; there is only one path to Heaven.
All will be wearing white robes, signifying that they have been made-righteous by Jesus.
The presence of the palm branches, echoing the circumstances of Jesus' entrance to Jerusalem prior to His final days, is interesting. This time the worship is fully-informed, genuine, and eternal!
Wisdom flows from the Lord God, His power is omnipotent, and strength comes from Him to us.
Every nation, tribe, people, and language will have some who will have heard and responded rightly.
Is Christians were to view themselves as among those wearing white robes might that help them to resist the things that attack their righteousness here on this fallen-earth?
The events that John viewed were outside of the linear time of fallen-earth, they were a glimpse into post-Great Tribulation, post-Wrath, post-Great White Throne Judgment, post-New Heaven & Earth.
When have you contemplated the majesty of the Lord God and bowed in humble worship?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one are in which He wants you to be more-surrendered so that He may draw you nearer to the righteousness that will be yours in eternity.
Today I will humbly surrender that area of my life which the Holy Spirit has designed. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement, and to be my accountability partner, as I intentionally keep that area surrendered as I look ahead to the next and the next.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
7:13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These dressed in long white robes – who are they and where have they come from?
7:14a So I said to him, “My lord, you know the answer.”
7:14b Then he said to me, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
7:15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple, and the one seated on the throne will shelter them.
7:16 They will never go hungry or be thirsty again, and the sun will not beat down on them, nor any burning heat,
7:17 because the Lamb in the middle of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Lord, You have promised to bless those who suffer for Your name, despite the challenges of the Great Tribulation. May I allow Your Holy Spirit to be my strength, no matter the challenge that comes because of my faith, so that I may stand because of You.
The Lord challenges John to identify a group who are in “long white robes” and he could not.
John humbly acknowledged his lack of knowledge and the superior knowledge of the Heavenly-elder.
In the implied sequence of events it again appears, from this text, that believers will experience the Great Tribulation.
The “lamb” Who is “seated in the middle of the throne” is the One Who will shelter them; yet another affirmation of the deity of Christ.
The “throne” is used literally, rhetorically, and symbolically in the Bible. It is clearly identified as the seat of the Lord God and of Jesus. The mother of a disciple inquired about a seat for her son and was chastised by Jesus. It is used rhetorically as in “the throne of grace” or putting someone or something on the throne instead of the Lord. And it is used symbolically, as in the angel pouring out the cup on the throne of the beast (see Rev. 16).
The Great Tribulation will be a very difficult challenge and those who stand for Christ will be blessed for their faithfulness.
Could the intention of a Heavenly-elder questioning John for his knowledge be that the Lord wanted his readers to have no doubt that John was a messenger and not himself a Heavenly-being?
The throne of the Lord God has always been His and always will be.
When have you been caused by the Holy Spirit, through a respectful challenge from a person of Biblical integrity, to acknowledge the limits of your knowledge?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone who has suffered greatly due to their faith in the Lord.
Today I will pray for the one who has suffered for the Lord; I will give thanks that they received His strength, thanks that He found them willing instruments, and thanks that He has allowed me to know their testimony – so that it may strengthen my faith.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – “Revelation” Section – Revelation 4 – 5 – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in June of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The Seventh Seal
8:1 Now when the Lamb opened the seventh seal there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
8:2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 8:3 Another angel holding a golden censer came and was stationed at the altar. A large amount of incense was given to him to offer up, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar that is before the throne. 8:4 The smoke coming from the incense, along with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. 8:5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth, and there were crashes of thunder, roaring, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.”
8:6 Now the seven angels holding the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. 8:7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and there was hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was thrown at the earth so that a third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.”
8:8 Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain of burning fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea became blood, 8:9 and a third of the creatures living in the sea died, and a third of the ships were completely destroyed.”
8:10 Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a huge star burning like a torch fell from the sky; it landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 8:11 (Now the name of the star is Wormwood.) So a third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from these waters because they were poisoned.
8:12 Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. And there was no light for a third of the day and for a third of the night likewise.
8:13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying directly overhead, proclaiming with a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who live on the earth because of the remaining sounds of the trumpets of the three angels who are about to blow them!”
9:1 Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the abyss.
9:2 He opened the shaft of the abyss and smoke rose out of it like smoke from a giant furnace. The sun and the air were darkened with smoke from the shaft. 9:3 Then out of the smoke came locusts onto the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth.
9:4 They were told not to damage the grass of the earth, or any green plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their forehead. 9:5 The locusts were not given permission to kill them, but only to torture them for five months, and their torture was like that of a scorpion when it stings a person. 9:6 In those days people will seek death, but will not be able to find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them.
9:7 Now the locusts looked like horses equipped for battle. On their heads were something like crowns similar to gold, and their faces looked like men’s faces. 9:8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9:9 They had breastplates like iron breastplates, and the sound of their wings was like the noise of many horse-drawn chariots charging into battle. 9:10 They have tails and stingers like scorpions, and their ability to injure people for five months is in their tails.
9:11 They have as king over them the angel of the abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.
9:12 The first woe has passed, but two woes are still coming after these things!
9:13 Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a single voice coming from the horns on the golden altar that is before God, 9:14 saying to the sixth angel, the one holding the trumpet, “Set free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!” 9:15 Then the four angels who had been prepared for this hour, day, month, and year were set free to kill a third of humanity. 9:16 The number of soldiers on horseback was two hundred million; I heard their number.
9:17 Now this is what the horses and their riders looked like in my vision: The riders had breastplates that were fiery red, dark blue, and sulfurous yellow in color. The heads of the horses looked like lions’ heads, and fire, smoke, and sulfur came out of their mouths.
9:18 A third of humanity was killed by these three plagues, that is, by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that came out of their mouths. 9:19 For the power of the horses resides in their mouths and in their tails, because their tails are like snakes, having heads that inflict injuries.
9:20 The rest of humanity, who had not been killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so that they did not stop worshiping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood – idols that cannot see or hear or walk about. 9:21 Furthermore, they did not repent of their murders, of their magic spells, of their sexual immorality, or of their stealing.
The Angel with the Little Scroll
10:1 Then I saw another powerful angel descending from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun and his legs were like pillars of fire.
10:2 He held in his hand a little scroll that was open, and he put his right foot on the sea and his left on the land. 10:3 Then he shouted in a loud voice like a lion roaring, and when he shouted, the seven thunders sounded their voices.
10:4 When the seven thunders spoke, I was preparing to write, but just then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders spoke and do not write it down.”
10:5 Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 10:6 and swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, and the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, “There will be no more delay! 10:7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God is completed, just as he has proclaimed to his servants the prophets.”
10:8 Then the voice I had heard from heaven began to speak to me again, “Go and take the open scroll in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” 10:9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take the scroll and eat it. It will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” 10:10 So I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and it did taste as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 10:11 Then they told me: “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”
Lord, that of which You have warned will come, and there will be accountability for rebellion. May I be faithful in warning those who have not yet accepted Christ, faithful in praying for the same, and comforted to know that Your wrath is reserved only for those whose names are not recorded in “The Book of Life”.
It is unclear how John marked time but one may reasonably take the delay to reflect his sense of anticipation and the seriousness of the moment.
Observe the continuing importance God assigns to “... the prayers of the all the saints”, which means every believer.
Whereas blood was a symbol of the covering of sin in the OT, and of sin washed-away in the NT, here at the pouring-out of the Wrath of God it represents judgment. There is also a repeated pattern of “a third” - which reminds one of the percentage of angels who fell from Heaven with Satan in rebellion, it has also been speculated that when a man died without a will the law specified that one-third portion was to be given to the widow and the other two-thirds to the heir. When Jesus “died” His “widow” was the unsaved – thus judgment symbolically comes to one-third.
Symbolism is used which remind one of the plagues that the Lord brought upon Egypt.
Wormwood was a very bitter substance in the Middle East.
It has been speculated that the “huge star” could be an asteroid, though a little further along in the text it appears that it may be a reference to an angel, or a group of angels.
Proclamations of woe were common in OT times, sometimes as a means to demoralize a surrounded enemy, sometimes to warn a people in rebellion against God of chastisement to come,
The NET translator’s notes suggest that “angel” rather than “eagle” is an acceptable alternative – in either case this being is issuing a clarion call of doom.
The “key” in vs 9:1 may refer to authority or knowledge or power, in this case it is associated with the capacity to open access to “the abyss”. As in Job the Enemy, or one of his minions, is allowed by God to bring into the earth a taste of life without God’s protection. As in Job God sets limits. Observe again that this is the Wrath and not the Tribulation as God has already removed those who are already His.
This contains an additional detail as to the term “star”, which is not notated in Chapter 8. The “star” is identified as a being rather than an inanimate object. Looking ahead to Rev. 12:4 where the fallen angels are described as “... swept away a third of the stars from heaven”, this would appear to refer to one of the fallen angels. It is also possible that the “star” is an angel sent by God.
John uses “like” because his descriptions were the nearest he could get. The “five months” parallels the Flood as well as the normal activity of locusts. There was no escape even to death.
Various speculations have Abaddon/Apollyon refer to Satan, the Antichrist, or the demonic equivalent of an archangel.
If one were to put a more-fine point to it, one might postulate that the Tribulation is followed by the three “woes” of the Lord God’s Wrath; Consequence, Judgment, and Destruction.
This is the beginning of the Judgment, to follow the Consequence of rebellion – the withdrawal of the Lord God’s protection from the evil powers of the “pit” where He has long-restrained the worst of the forces of Satan.
John once again uses “like” as he had no experience to directly compare to what he was seeing.
There is no evidence in the text to suggest that these had repented, they instead appear to have been killed as an example of the consequence of unrepentant rebellion to the remaining two-thirds.
The “woe” to follow is clearly the responsibility of those who remained utterly unteachable with hearts immovably-hardened against the truth of God.
Vs. 10:1 appears to support the view that the “star” or angel mentioned as “falling” from Heaven in Rev. 9 may also have been sent by God, rather than one of Satan’s minions.
The “seven thunders” are not directly identified in the text but may be yet another phrase used to refer to the “seven spirits” whom we discussed earlier in the Revelation series.
Daniel 12:4, 9, and 2 Cor. 12:4 also report withheld revelation.
John appears to be looking ahead “But in the days when ...”. “The mystery of God ...” is also referenced elsewhere in the Bible.
John recognizes that his task to prophesy will be a largely bitter experience even as the truth of God is a sweet taste in his mouth.
Sometimes the Lord God doesn’t tell us all things but only the things we need to know when we need to know them. The Lord continued to place value on the prayers of the “saints” - believers.
What are some practical ways to share the truth, which to those who love truth is sweet, but to those who do not it is bitter? How do we share difficult truths without losing the love for truth in the process?
The intentional process of God causes each thing to flows in perfect time and sequence. There is an interesting parallel between Satan’s fall from heaven, with one-third of the angels, and then the Lord God's wrath upon one-third of the fallen earth of which Satan is Prince, as well as the torment and death of one-third of humanity.
What is an example from your life where you were able to share a difficult truth with someone and they remained open to further truth rather than hiding from it for fear that they might receive additional challenging information? (The calamities described are a reflection of the absence of God’s hand of protection – withdrawn because people have rejected Him, followed by God’s judgment because of their hard hearts against His truth.)
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an area of your life where you may be resisting a difficult word and thus have been rejecting a portion of His truth.
Today I will agree to welcome the Holy Spirit into this area of my life and to accept whatever the Lord has to teach me. I am also choosing to pray specifically for an individual or a family who do not yet have a saving relationship with Jesus – so that they will not have to face the Wrath of God.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
“The Fate of the Two Witnesses
11:1 Then a measuring rod like a staff was given to me, and I was told, “Get up and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and the ones who worship there. 11:2 But do not measure the outer courtyard of the temple; leave it out, because it has been given to the Gentiles, and they will trample on the holy city for forty-two months.”
11:3 “And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.”
11:4 (These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.)
11:5 “If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths and completely consumes their enemies. If anyone wants to harm them, they must be killed this way.”
11:6 “These two have the power to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the time they are prophesying. They have power to turn the waters to blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague whenever they want.”
11:7 “When they have completed their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will make war on them and conquer them and kill them.”
11:8 “Their corpses will lie in the street of the great city that is symbolically called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was also crucified.”
11:9 “For three and a half days those from every people, tribe, nation, and language will look at their corpses, because they will not permit them to be placed in a tomb.
11:10 “And those who live on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate, even sending gifts to each other, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.”
11:11 But after three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and tremendous fear seized those who were watching them.
11:12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them: “Come up here!” So the two prophets went up to heaven in a cloud while their enemies stared at them.
11:13 Just then a major earthquake took place and a tenth of the city collapsed; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.”
11:14 The second woe has come and gone; the third is coming quickly.
Lord, You send Your prophets to declare Your truth and to bring vexations upon the rebels to teach them respect. May I be found teachable rather than making such vexations necessary in my life.
“Gentiles” does not refer here to non-Jews but to non-believers. It is probably a poor choice as a translation as it creates confusion, even though it is an accurate literal translation of the Greek. The NET translator’s suggest that “nations” is an acceptable option, which refers to secular people.
Sackcloth is the clothing one wears in mourning.
The term “witnesses” is most often used in the Bible in a legal context where more than one is required to convict. In this case it appears that the mission of these witness/prophets is to state the case for the God’s judgment against a world in rebellion.
This is a reference to Zechariah 4 where the prophet was shown a similar vision. Various explanations have been offered, the “witnesses” are symbolic of the “church” and the “state” because the olive trees and lampstands are “types” of each, but that makes little sense in this context. One may read this as the Holy Spirit pouring His truth into the Church (believers) who are to then be light – but it is then a challenge to explain why there are two. Others conclude that they are literally men and the oil is the Holy Spirit pouring the truth of God into them so that they may shine His light. This latter explanation appears to come closest to matching the apparent intent of the text.
Several of these negative events parallel the plagues upon Egypt.
The witnesses are a “type” of Jesus, and of all who follow Him,. The Enemy attacks both the truth and the messengers of truth.
John again qualifies his text, this time instead of “like” he uses “symbolically”.
This is s similar time-period to that which Jesus was dead. Observe that “... these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth”, suggesting again that all were unsaved – post tribulation (wrath). There is no evidence in this text that anyone mourned their death.
Resurrection, another “type” of Jesus. Elsewhere we are told that the Enemy will counterfeit this miracle in order to borrow credibility.
Ascension, another “type” of Jesus. Elijah was also taken-up in a vaguely similar way.
There are many atheists who cry out to God in a moment of abject terror in a “foxhole”, but that is not about salvation, it is merely a superstitious hope that some “magical being” would rescue them. The same appears to be true here, except that they have a much better notion as of Whom they should be terrified, thus they declared His power. The phrase “gave glory” is about the recognition of God’s power, it does not denote a submission to His Lordship, and a surrender of worldly attachments.
Prior to pouring-out His just Wrath upon the unrepentant world the Lord God sees fit to one final time send prophets to tell the story of why they are about to be condemned. Truth is preached and, as in the past, the truth-teller is murdered.
What are some practical ways to allow the Lord God to pour His truth into you so that you may be a light to the dark world all around you?
There is a difference between one who recognizes the glory and power of God (even Satan recognizes that) and one who submits appropriately to that (only a genuine believer).
What is an example from your life when fear caused you to “give glory”, the recognition of power, to someone or to some thing – but not so that you intended to worship it or them. (e.g. a scary storm, a menacing bully, a threatening animal, a dictatorial boss, etc.)
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you ways that you might partner with Him to better-receive His “oil” for your “lamp” so that you may become a more effective truth-teller.
Today I am choosing to seek a specific area where I may have been blocking the flow of His “oil” or have been failing to keep His “light” burning as brightly as I could and should.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Seventh Trumpet
11:15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying:
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
11:16 Then the twenty-four elders who are seated on their thrones before God threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and worshiped God 11:17 with these words: “We give you thanks, Lord God, the All-Powerful, the one who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and begun to reign. 11:18 The nations were enraged, but your wrath has come, and the time has come for the dead to be judged, and the time has come to give to your servants, the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints and to those who revere your name, both small and great, and the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
11:19 Then the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was visible within his temple. And there were flashes of lightning, roaring, crashes of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.
The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon
12:1 Then a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and with the moon under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars. 12:2 She was pregnant and was screaming in labor pains, struggling to give birth.
12:3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon that had seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadem crowns. 12:4a Now the dragon’s tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth.
12:4b Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born.
12:5 So the woman gave birth to a son, a male child, who is going to rule over all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne, 12:6 and she fled into the wilderness where a place had been prepared for her by God, so she could be taken care of for 1,260 days.
Lord, Your righteous-wrath will come and the enemy will desperately attempt to harm as many of Yours as possible. May I trust Your timing, Your justice, and Your perfect loving protection of those who belong to You.
The Lord God is about to finish the cleaning-out of fallen things and to wrest the final vestiges of power over the world from Satan, who has been the prince of this world since the Fall in Eden.
This last phase, which we have been studying, has been about God’s Wrath, poured-out upon an unrepentant world, in a three-woe process.
And thus begins the third and final woe.
The sun and the moon have varying Biblical meaning. We know from John’s qualifier “a great sign” that the “woman” is symbolic rather than literal, though not certainly exclusive of literal meaning. Some have postulated the woman as representing Israel, some the Church (in the Historicist model more the institutional organization, in the all-of-the-above model she would represent believers), others (Preterist) literally Mary, and yet others (Idealist) the coming of one philosophy or another purporting to represent God. The Futurist might have one postulate literal Israel returning to the forefront of Biblical events, perhaps the “completion” of Jews as they accept Jesus as Messiah, or perhaps as the Church (believers) “... struggling to give birth” to truth in a world that seems to prefer the darkness of lies.
The dragon is generally understood as a symbol of evil, or of Satan himself. The sweeping away of “a third of the stars in heaven” has appeared previously to describe angels whom he led into his rebellion against God.
Depending on the view of the woman’s identity the birth could be literally Jesus, figuratively Jesus ushering-in the Church, figuratively the organized church impacting the world, figuratively Israel turning to their Messiah, or figuratively Jesus gathering His Church together to “birth” the “new heaven and new earth”, which would of course mean the end of Satan.
There are widely varying methodologies which impact how one interprets Revelation; Preterist (allegorical and symbolic from John’s time), Historicist (allegorical and symbolic of church history), Idealist (illustrating spiritual truths with incidental relationship to history or future), Futurist (describing the latter days of the end times). It is this student’s view that the answer is all-of-the-above rather than any one of them to the exclusion of the others. The Bible is filled with layers of meaning and there is no sound reason to believe that Revelation is suddenly an exception, one must be as equally cautious to not exclude meaning as one is to not impose meaning. It is also helpful to recall that while Creation is locked-into linear time, one event follows another in order within a fixed flow of time and no one can move back and forth in time, such is not true of God. It is also helpful to recall that what seems like a long time on earth to man is but a moment in time to God.
Revelation 11:19 described a scene that sounds a lot like the events at the death of Jesus on the Cross “... the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was visible within his temple. And there were flashes of lightning, roaring, crashes of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.”
Up until this point there appeared to be a clear sequence of events, all the way up to the third and final “woe” of the pouring-out of the Wrath of God and the text of Rev. 11:14-18 clearly supports that reading. It would thus appear that the following text may refer to events in the spiritual realm parallel to the prior telling of earth-bound events.
[It is beyond this Study to attempt the granular exploration necessary to compare and contrast the many vagaries among analyses of Revelation. There are Biblical themes critical to salvation and righteous living reinforced in Revelation and those, more than anything are, to be discerned and applied.]
The message is clear that there is a massive spiritual battle and we are in the middle of it, indeed, we are the treasure over which the Lord God and Satan are warring.
What are some practical ways to help people to see the pattern in the Bible of Satan as our implacable enemy and the Lord God as our tenacious ally?
The continuing pattern of the Biblical teaching is that the faithful are blessed with God’s love, and the rebellious are cursed with the absence of God’s love.
When have you observed (or experienced) a newly saved person, or a growing and effective outreach of evangelistic-missions, whom or which the enemy has attacked? How did God defend that person or ministry?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show me one area of your walk with Him where you need to be strengthened in your knowledge of and trust in Him.
Today I am choosing to step-out without fear and to bear-up when the enemy attacks, because He is my courage and He is my strength and my great defender.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
War in Heaven
12:7 Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.
12:8 But the dragon was not strong enough to prevail, so there was no longer any place left in heaven for him and his angels.
12:9 So that huge dragon – the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world – was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him.
12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the ruling authority of his Christ, have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, the one who accuses them day and night before our God, has been thrown down.”
12:11 “But they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
12:12 “Therefore you heavens rejoice, and all who reside in them! But woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has come down to you! He is filled with terrible anger, for he knows that he only has a little time!”
12:13 Now when the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.
12:14 But the woman was given the two wings of a giant eagle so that she could fly out into the wilderness, to the place God prepared for her, where she is taken care of – away from the presence of the serpent – for a time, times, and half a time.
12:15 Then the serpent spouted water like a river out of his mouth after the woman in an attempt to sweep her away by a flood,
12:16 but the earth came to her rescue; the ground opened up and swallowed the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth.”
12:17 So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep God’s commandments and hold to the testimony about Jesus.
(12:18) And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.
Lord, You cast Satan out of Heaven – together with the fallen-angels – and they sought revenge against Your children here on Earth. May I be found faithful so that rather than partnering with Your enemy, and mine, I am Your instrument of blessing.
The context of his text suggests a jump back to the original fall of Satan and one-third of the angels, which may or may not imply that everything up to this point was prior to the fall in Heaven.
In our study of Genesis 1-4 there was a reasonable suggestion that the fall of man paralleled the fall of Satan; that when he tempted Eve he was verbalizing for the first time his own rebellion. That said, the Biblical text elsewhere refers to the spiritual battle “in the heavenlies”, so perhaps this text refers to a time where God called an end to that post-Fall conflict (prior Revelation text had chronicled major change throughout Heaven and all of Creation).
The text also continues to suggest that this cataclysmic event follows a period of time after the fall of Satan, as it refers to his past; indeed, the term “ancient” is used.
This text, paired with the gospel understanding of the impact of Jesus’ death and resurrection upon the power of Satan and of death, suggests a moment has been reached for the final impact of “... the accuser” being “... thrown down” by “Christ”.
The text says “... our brothers” the believers “overcame” because they were fearless in their faith. The term “overcame” could be past, or present, or both.
In the flow of Revelation vs 12:12 may describe the release of Satan and his minions upon the earth as the woes” unfold.
The NET translators conclude that “... a time, times, and half a time.” refers to 1,260 days, the same as referenced elsewhere in the text of Revelation. There are seemingly endless reports of God’s provision of a safe place for those whom He loves, so this fits with with the character of God.
God defends those who are his. It is valuable to note the linkages from passage to passage where the text includes “then”, which implies a sequential flow of events.
The “children” of the “women” are identified as faithful and under attack. If this refers to a moment in what has generally appeared to be a continuous flow of time, and is taken literally, then the believers would be new ones “birthed” during the Wrath. If more allegorical then it could refer to his efforts to cause the condemnation of believers in the Lord – a quixotic endeavor. It is notable that Jesus described sand as a poor choice of places on which to build a house as it tends to be washed away more easily.
Satan directly challenged the rule of Heaven by the Lord God and lost. There are two Biblical postulates to explain why Satan and the fallen angels were not obliterated; the first is that Satan’s Fall was directly-associated with that of Adam & Eve – so his future became linked to that of all of humankind, and the second is that part of the process of justice was to demonstrate why Satan and the fallen angels had to be destroyed.
How might you use this text to help believers to trust the Lord God more and to become more-watchful for the evil schemes of the enemy?
Despite the cataclysmic battle the Lord God troubles Himself to protect His children.
When have you observed a circumstance where someone tried to harm a fellowship but they were detected and further harm prevented?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you something that you believe that is not truly-Biblical but is, rather, a trick of the enemy to create conflict between you and your Lord Jesus.
Today I will humbly and gratefully accept the Heavenly-warning. I will seek-out a fellow believer, and perhaps one who is Biblically-qualified as an elder, to walk with me toward truth.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Two Beasts
13:1 Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, and on its heads a blasphemous name.
13:2 Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule.
13:3 One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement;
13:4 they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?”
13:5 The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months.
13:6 So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God – to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
13:7 The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them.
He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation,
13:8 and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast,
everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed.
13:9 If anyone has an ear, he had better listen!
Lord, for forty-two months You will allow the “beast” to play-god in order that there is a sifting of rebels from believers. May I trust You to protect those who belong to You and that Jesus is far more powerful than the “beast” and will defeat him.
While the “beast” is initially described as an “it”, suggesting that it could be a group or an organization, the text then switches to a masculine gender “his”. This suggests that the beast also has a clear human or human-like focus or leader. Since the “dragon” is a symbol of Satan, and he is the prince of this world, he is able to give power to the “beast” - and God allows it as part of His unfolding judgment.
The “beast” counterfeits the healing and/or resurrection by Jesus and His disciples in order to borrow/steal credibility.
Worship is what Satan always wanted, despite the fact that only the Lord God is to be worshiped.
John 4:3 teaches that the spirit of the antichrist is already in the world, so this is more of an unbridled release than an entirely new activity.
Everyone will worship the beast (and Satan) except for believers, because their names have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and they only worship God.
An Old Testament “type” for this experience is Daniel, who in captivity continued to worship God, even though jealous schemers had manipulated the king into a declaration requiring that the people could only worship him.
A clear line is drawn between the faithful and the rebellious, those who belong to this fallen world and those who belong to the kingdom of heaven. This world gets the leadership it desires – apart from the Lord God – and believers endure as God works-out His perfect plan.
What are some examples of the ways tht people are being conditioned to believe lies and to follow obvious liars in the world today?
The Lord God allows Satan a time to pretend to be God and to manipulate and terrorize the unsaved into worshiping him, and those to whom he delegates power. Any time that we drift into the functional-worship of any sort of idol (celebrity, money, possessions, power, etc) we make it easier for Satan to persuade people to worship him rather than God.
When have you experienced or observed someone claiming authority in the Christian world who lied about the Lord God and about themselves?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where you believe something that you have reason to believe is not true (or are doing something you know to be unwise), but that you want to believe (or do), so you are ignoring the truth.
Today I will humbly confess and seek forgiveness for my offense against the truth. I will accept the Lord Gods forgiveness as I truly-repent, and will prayerfully reconcile and be restored to a healthier relationship with Him – without that sin in the way.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
13:10 If anyone is meant for captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed by the sword, then by the sword he must be killed. This requires steadfast endurance and faith from the saints.
13:11 Then I saw another beast coming up from the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but was speaking like a dragon.
13:12 He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed.
13:13 He performed momentous signs, even making fire come down from heaven in front of people 13:14a and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth.
13:14b He told those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived.
13:15 The second beast was empowered to give life to the image of the first beast so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
13:16 He also caused everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave) to obtain a mark on their right hand or on their forehead.
13:17 Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the mark of the beast – that is, his name or his number.
13:18 This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the beast’s number, for it is man’s number, and his number is 666.
Lord, You allow the enemy to bring his best against the world so as to cull the faithful out from ‘fakesville’, a terribly-painful refining process. May I be prepared to stand-apart from the world system and to stand with You, with your strength – not mine - no matter what.
Believers will suffer for their faithfulness to God. It is unclear if “meant for” requires that God has ordained the manner of death, for His purposes, or if it means that whatever comes one must endure in faith.
Some have suggested a parallel to Jesus’ words in Matthew 26:52 “... everyone who takes up the sword will die by the sword”, but the NET translator’s argue for the Jeremiah 15:2 meaning of endurance.
A creature with horns like a lamb, and other features like a dragon, is a common image in satanism and witchcraft.
This odd-looking creature is one who has delegated power from the beast - whose power came from Satan.
The deception is amplified using false signs and wonders.
What was presented in vss 13:14b-15was an animated idol with the power to kill those who did not worship it. This is not necessarily a singular physical being, or a literal animated-statue, but may be symbolic of a political-religious system.
There has been much debate as to the precise meaning of the “mark”. The timing of this must be prior to the Wrath, as that is reserved for non-believers, and the lesson appears to be that believers need a form or bartering and/or interdependence that is independent of the world system of commerce – as they will not accept “the mark of the beast” and therefore will not be allowed to participate in general commerce.
There are many speculations about the “number” one must reconcile “the number … 666” as the number of humankind, the number of the name of the antichrist, and the number of the “mark”; none of them necessarily literally “666”
Some schemes have purported to assign numbers to letters and then to discover words that use them, of course they do this in English – a language that did not exist at the time – to be legitimate this must be done in the original language, ancient Greek. Perhaps the wisdom to “calculate the number” has not yet been given to humankind by the Lord God.
Do we have a plan to survive, brothers and sister helping one-another, when we have to reject the “mark” and therefore are unable to gain access to resources via the normal worldly system of commerce?
If the “mark” prevents believers from participation in the commerce of the world if that more likely to finally motivate us to work together, or will we all suffer terrible poverty – isolated and unprepared?
Those who are obsessed with guessing the meaning of “666” via some scheme may be proving their lack of wisdom.
When have you experienced an example of suffering for your faith?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you some way that you, and perhaps a number of other believers, might prepare yourselves to support one-another – physically ad spiritually – should the “mark” become real during your lifetime.
Today I will discuss with fellow believer how we might acquire the necessities of life apart from the world system of commerce. We will also discuss how we can support one-another in bearing-up under the terrible oppression – perhaps learning from modern-day believers in the Sudan and other systematically and /or violently anti-Christian nations.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
An Interlude: The Song of the 144,000
14:1 Then I looked, and here was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were one hundred and forty-four thousand, who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
14:2 I also heard a sound coming out of heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. Now the sound I heard was like that made by harpists playing their harps, 14:3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one was able to learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth.
14:4 These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from humanity as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb, 14:5 and no lie was found on their lips; they are blameless.
Three Angels and Three Messages
14:6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, and he had an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth – to every nation, tribe, language, and people.
14:7 He declared in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!”
14:8 A second angel followed the first, declaring: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great city! She made all the nations drink of the wine of her immoral passion.”
14:9 A third angel followed the first two, declaring in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and takes the mark on his forehead or his hand, 14:10 that person will also drink of the wine of God’s anger that has been mixed undiluted in the cup of his wrath, and he will be tortured with fire and sulfur in front of the holy angels and in front of the Lamb. 14:11 And the smoke from their torture will go up forever and ever, and those who worship the beast and his image will have no rest day or night, along with anyone who receives the mark of his name.”
14:12 This requires the steadfast endurance of the saints – those who obey God’s commandments and hold to their faith in Jesus.”
14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: ‘Blessed are the dead, those who die in the Lord from this moment on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they can rest from their hard work, because their deeds will follow them.”
14:14 Then I looked, and a white cloud appeared, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man! He had a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 14:15 Then another angel came out of the temple, shouting in a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud, “Use your sickle and start to reap, because the time to reap has come, since the earth’s harvest is ripe!” 14:16 So the one seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.”
14:17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 14:18 Another angel, who was in charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to the angel who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes off the vine of the earth, because its grapes are now ripe.”
14:19 So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the grapes from the vineyard of the earth and tossed them into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 14:20 Then the winepress was stomped outside the city, and blood poured out of the winepress up to the height of horses’ bridles for a distance of almost two hundred miles.”
Lord, Your love is so great that even in the midst of terrible judgment You still choose to offer a final opportunity for salvation. May I honor Your love and patience and more-intentionally partner with the Holy Spirit to follow You more closely.
This is a celebration, a prelude to the great redemption of God’s children into an eternity of perfect relationship with Him - that which He has long desired and patiently brought to fruition.
It could be that the “new song” is the praise of the newly redeemed 144,000, a new song (or a new “choir”) never before heard in Heaven.
Clearly there is none but Jesus Who ever lived on this fallen earth who truly “undefiled” and truly “blameless”.
If the text is taken somewhat literally this would represent 144,000 children, taken prior to the so-called age of accountability, may represent a selective-rapture, and would refer to the absence of volitional-sin versus salvific-blamelessness (none but Jesus achieved that).
The discussion of the 144,000 has previously been considered and it is improbable, though not impossible, that these are other than the same.
The description of the 144,000 could be treated as rhetorical, as all who are given new bodies are instantly “virgins”, and because they have been made holy – in Christ – and they are also “blameless”.
Vss 14:6-7 may be a final call to faith to those remaining on earth, may be the final clarion call of the end of the fallen world, and may be a declaration of the last chance to take sides (the “mark” serving as a “line in the sand”).
Vs 14:12 mentions “saints”, suggesting that – depending upon where one positions the time-sequence of these events - some appear to have newly come-to-faith after the Tribulation and/or during the Wrath.
The Lord God calls for endurance in faith during an exceptionally difficult time and He promises blessing.
If the One on the “white cloud” is Jesus then the angel was not issuing a command but was, rather, making a celebratory declaration.
If this being was “like a son of man”, it could mean that it looked-human, or that it looked more than merely-human – more like Jesus. (Since 14:17 refers to a parallel being as an “angel” one may reasonably postulate this also to be an angel – or at least an angelic-like being.)
Those in unrepentant-rebellion have their life-blood pressed out of them so that they no longer contain the breath of life that the Lord God once gave them.
A “new song”, never before heard in Heaven, will be sung as those whom He has redeemed enter the presence of God.
What are some practical ways to live “blameless” and “undefiled” lives before our loving and gracious Lord God, insofar as is possible in these fallen bodies in this fallen world, even with the help of the Holy Spirit?
Even after thousands of years of history, and all of the events of the last days of these end times, the Lord God still issues a final challenge to people to choose sides.
What example(s) of endurance in the face of persecution-for-faith can you share and how was the strengthening of the Holy Spirit apparent to you during those events? (Either as a participant or as an observer.)
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your walk where you could become more intentionally “blameless” and “undefiled” in a specific and practical way.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement, and to be an accountability-partner, in my journey toward greater maturity as a child of the Lord God.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – “Revelation” Section – Revelation 4 – 5 – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in June of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The Final Plagues
15:1 Then I saw another great and astounding sign in heaven: seven angels who have seven final plagues (they are final because in them God’s anger is completed).
15:2 Then I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name. They were standing by the sea of glass, holding harps given to them by God.
15:3 They sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:
“Great and astounding are your deeds,
Lord God, the All-Powerful!
Just and true are your ways,
King over the nations!
15:4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name, because you alone are holy?
All nations will come and worship before you for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
15:5 After these things I looked, and the temple (the tent of the testimony) was opened in heaven,
15:6 and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, dressed in clean bright linen, wearing wide golden belts around their chests.
15:7 Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever,
15:8 and the temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and from his power.
Thus no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues from the seven angels were completed.
Lord, Your perfect justice will bring an end to the conflict, in the meanwhile the consequence of choices will unfold as it must. May I cling tightly to You for safety in the storms of life.
The consequences of thousands of years of rebellion are “bowls of wrath”, the terrible outpouring of a mercy-free cause and effect, a world without the tempering grace of the Lord God.
Standing with the angels, holding the bowls of God’s wrath, were “... those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name”.
Conquering the beast would have been accomplished through the faith-enabled power of the Lord.
Conquering his image, the animated-idol which so many will worship would happen in the same way.
Conquering “... the number of his name” remains a mystery to be known in its time, but will also only happen through the faith-enabled power of the Lord.
Despite their preference for evil and rebellion every nation will submit and recognize the holy power of the Lord God.
While the “bowls of wrath” are being poured-out the Lord God becomes unapproachable in the temple, perhaps a parallel to the “furnace” of Daniel 3, which was so hot that servants who drew too-near were consumed by the heat, or Moses at the “burning bush” in Exodus 3, at which time (and later during the making of the Ten Commandments) he was warned to take care to not approach too-closely and/or to turn away.
Those who stood with the Lord God during the most trying times continued to be held near to Him.
What are some other times in the Bible where the Lord God set boundaries in His relationship with humankind due to His righteous-anger which His grace was preventing Him from destroying them?
The Lord God is the definition of, and the sole source of, holiness.
What is an example of a time when testimonies were shared and the presence of the glory and power of the Lord among His people seemed exceptionally real?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a testimony that He has in your life which He wants you to share so that others may know His love poured-out into you.
Today I will share my story, perhaps before a group, perhaps in an electronic format, perhaps one on one – calling little attention to myself, giving all of the attention and glory to the only Holy One.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Bowls of God’s Wrath
16:1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple declaring to the seven angels: “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.”
16:2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth. Then ugly and painful sores appeared on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.
16:3 Next, the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea and it turned into blood, like that of a corpse, and every living creature that was in the sea died.
16:4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned into blood.
16:5 Now I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are just – the one who is and who was, the Holy One – because you have passed these judgments,
16:6 because they poured out the blood of your saints and prophets, so you have given them blood to drink. They got what they deserved!”
16:7 Then I heard the altar reply, “Yes, Lord God, the All-Powerful, your judgments are true and just!”
16:8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was permitted to scorch people with fire.
16:9 Thus people were scorched by the terrible heat, yet they blasphemed the name of God, who has ruling authority over these plagues, and they would not repent and give him glory.
16:10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast so that darkness covered his kingdom, and people began to bite their tongues because of their pain.
16:11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their sufferings and because of their sores, but nevertheless they still refused to repent of their deeds.
16:12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates and dried up its water to prepare the way for the kings from the east.
16:13 Then I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
16:14 For they are the spirits of the demons performing signs who go out to the kings of the earth to bring them together for the battle that will take place on the great day of God, the All-Powerful.
Lord, You are always just, it is humankind which is both rebellious and unjust. May I pray and share with those who do not yet have a saving relationship with You.
Choices have consequences.
Observe that it says “... every living creature” in the sea died. This breaks the food-cycle of the entire planet.
Whereas much of Revelation utilizes symbolism it is reasonable to take “... the angel of the waters” as a rhetorical expression to say that one angel celebrated the justice of the Egypt-like plague of turning the waters to blood.
Vs 16:6 justice and vs. 16:7 affirmation.
Here is an incredible expression of power, from a human standpoint, that the massive sun could be stimulated to expel enough energy - above and beyond the usual - to burn people on the earth. Even though it was acknowledged that the source of this plague was God, the same three prior plagues, the unrepentant people still refused to “... give Him glory but, rather, blasphemed His name.”
Sores on their bodies, no fish in the sea, no water to drink, burns, and oppressive heat, and now darkness – yet the unrepentant continue to rebel.
A huge highway is made from the river bed as it is about time for the battle of Armageddon and the armies need to gather.
God allows the demons to summon the human kings of the rebellious people.
Consequences come upon unrepentant people who chose Satan over God. As distasteful as it is – this is justice. Note that the text refers over and over to their continued choice to blaspheme God rather than to surrender and worship Him.
What are some practical ways to show people the Lord God’s consistency from Genesis to Revelation. He tells us how to be right before Him and what are the consequences of rebellion? (He uses many of the same consequences over and over, so none may be surprised when they come in a final judgment.)
The depth of arrogant-rebellion is amazing; even under these devastatingly-horrific conditions people continue to assert their independence from God and their reliance upon Satan – who is powerless to protect them and who is also part of the reason for their suffering.
What is an example of contemporary events where despite overwhelming evidence some people refuse to accept truth because it would require them to be aligned with a group or person whom they have been propagandized to hate?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you have accepted a lie because to think and/or act otherwise would force you to make peace with someone or some organization for whom you have developed a strong dislike.
Today I agree to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and as necessary to recruit an accountability and prayer partner, as I walk through the process of accepting a hard truth as I reconcile with a hard-to-like and hard-to-love person or group of people.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
16:15 (Look! I will come like a thief!
Blessed is the one who stays alert and does not lose his clothes so that he will not have to walk around naked and his shameful condition be seen.)
16:16 Now the spirits gathered the kings and their armies to the place that is called Armageddon in Hebrew.
16:17 Finally the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying: “It is done!”
16:18 Then there were flashes of lightning, roaring, and crashes of thunder, and there was a tremendous earthquake – an earthquake unequaled since humanity has been on the earth, so tremendous was that earthquake.
16:19 The great city was split into three parts and the cities of the nations collapsed. So Babylon the great was remembered before God, and was given the cup filled with the wine made of God’s furious wrath.
16:20 Every island fled away and no mountains could be found.
16:21 And gigantic hailstones, weighing about a hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people, but they blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, since it was so horrendous.
Lord, as the final bowl of Your righteous-wrath is poured-out what Jesus defeated when He said “it is finished” is thereby completed. May I be both glad and sad as this means that the time has come for You to gather Your children home and to destroy evil, yet many will perish and suffer for their rebellion.
Jesus again declares that He will return to end the days of fallen man on this earth – and no one but God knows that day – so we must be at the ready. Not found being careless about the things required of our faith.
Armageddon means the high place of Megiddo, it is the OT location of two major victories and also where Saul and Josiah died. It is a place of massive conflict and massive losses.
The OT judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah and the last words of Jesus on the Cross are echoed “it is done” or “it is finished” as the flow of evil out from Babylon is now reversed against it.
The cities are gone, the fish are dead, the water is undrinkable, people suffer sores and sunburns, great armies have gathered at Megiddo, the land has been leveled and there are no islands to which anyone may escape.
Then the “... gigantic hailstones” fall. (The smoke and ash and dust from the burning and crumbling cities have seeded the clouds?)
But still the unrepentant people blasphemed God rather than turn to the all-powerful One and the only One who can save them.
The Lord is showing them the “sign” that they demanded in Mark 8:11-12, and as Jesus knew “in His Spirit”, would make no difference.
Jesus will return and those without a saving relationship with Him will be as if they were without clothes, their sin visible to earth and heaven, their doom sealed.
Why is it important that we presume the day of His return is tomorrow, rather than some specific date?
The Lord allowed Cain to establish the first city, and throughout history cities have served as concentrated places of sin.
When have you observed a person, aware of a deadline, awaiting the last minute to complete tasks that they should have engaged daily without regard to the deadline?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one area of your live where you have procrastinated dealing with sin.
Today I will prayerfully confess and repent of both the sin and the procrastination, I will partner with the Holy Spirit to drive that sin from my life, and I will pray daily against its return.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Great Prostitute and the Beast
17:1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me. “Come,” he said, “I will show you the condemnation and punishment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters,
17:2 with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality and the earth’s inhabitants got drunk with the wine of her immorality.”
17:3 So he carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness, and there I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
17:4 Now the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup filled with detestable things and unclean things from her sexual immorality.
17:5 On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: “Babylon the Great, the Mother of prostitutes and of the detestable things of the earth.”
17:6a I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of those who testified to Jesus.
17:6b I was greatly astounded when I saw her. 17:7 But the angel said to me, “Why are you astounded? I will interpret for you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with the seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 17:8a The beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss and then go to destruction.”
17:8b The inhabitants of the earth – all those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world – will be astounded when they see that the beast was, and is not, but is to come.
17:9 (This requires a mind that has wisdom.)
Lord, Your children are not involved in the pouring-out of Your wrath, but the immense evil that is described is profound. May my prayer-filled empathy for those not-yet-saved be increased and my outreach to them be increased.
The great prostitute is over “peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages” (see Verse 17:15). It/she is the worldly philosophy or system which teaches rebellion against God and the pursuit of sin.
“Mystery” is a term which often refers to something difficult to understand and generally involving a spiritual element. Many of the word pictures John uses are common from Revelation and elsewhere in the NT and OT. This “woman” is not the same as the “prostitute”.
Satan hates truth and all who reject Jesus are slaves to him. Those who hate truth hate those who love the truth. The world system is his tool of manipulation in the world and it desires the destruction of all believers because believers represent conviction of their blasphemous life choices.
The beast was swept from the earth “... was, and is not” but will be released to face judgment.
The unsaved will be shocked when they see that God not only took the beast away but that He may at-will bring him back for judgment.
Leaders of nations, perhaps also sub-groups within nations, entice the people to follow apostate religions, leading them away from the truth of the Lord God. The Word teaches that “... people perish for lack of knowledge.” [Hosea 4:6]
How can the Biblical-Christian church more-effectively educate people about the essentially of the faith so that they are not as easily deceived?
The Enemy, and his associates, have done – and will do – a great deal of harm but the Lord God is greater and His great plan will be completed.
When have you experienced or observed a leader causing people to look away from Biblical teaching and at “another gospel”?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an opportunity to educate people about the essentials of the Biblical-Christian faith.
Today I will prayerfully and practically, directly and/or indirectly, make and assist in every way that the Holy Spirit directs and provides.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
17:9b “The seven heads are seven mountains the woman sits on.
They are also seven kings: 17:10 five have fallen; one is, and the other has not yet come, but whenever he does come, he must remain for only a brief time.
17:11 “The beast that was, and is not, is himself an eighth king and yet is one of the seven, and is going to destruction.
17:12 “The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive ruling authority as kings with the beast for one hour.
17:13 “These kings have a single intent, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.
17:14 “They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those accompanying the Lamb are the called, chosen, and faithful.”
17:15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw (where the prostitute is seated) are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.
17:16 The ten horns that you saw, and the beast – these will hate the prostitute and make her desolate and naked. They will consume her flesh and burn her up
with fire.
17:17 For God has put into their minds to carry out his purpose by making a decision to give their royal power to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled.”
“17:18 As for the woman you saw, she is the great city that has sovereignty over the kings of the earth.”
Lord, no matter how many fallen angels and rebellious humans join with the enemy, You will always prevail. May I trust You, rest in the certainty that soon all imperfection will be obliterated, and serve you with complete confidence of right and victory.
Some have taken this, and some text to follow, to refer to literal human kings in past history. Others take it to refer philosophies or religions. If this follows the events of Rev. 16 then either the leveling of the mountains therein was only of some, rather than all, or else the term “mountain” here is rhetorical and not literal. The beast that both is one of the seven and the eighth king is one who was a king that had fallen but has been brought back and again becomes a king.
The time-sequence of Revelation is somewhat mysterious some have speculated that John, in a non-linear time experience, is seeing the past, present and future, others suggest that he is seeing only the future (following his time), and yet others that the events are entirely from the Tribulation-forward.
It has been suggested that these are usurpers of worldly political authority in ten states or regions who are manipulated into power so that they may transfer the sovereign powers of the ten to a single one-world power.
The “Lamb” (the Son of God, member of the Trinity) has superior authority and power and will always prevail.
There is ultimately no “honor among thieves” as here they turn upon one of their own.
Vs 17:18 refers to Babylon.
The big picture of sin is that it pollutes “peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages”.
What are some practical ways explain the Biblical meaning of “Babylon”?
What are the subtle and not-so-subtle ways that sin is able to spread across to much of the world and not be recognized and rejected?
What is an example from your life where you discovered hidden sin in your life which had been promoted by culture, tradition, government, or language?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you ways that enticements to sin are being brought into your life, promoted by culture, tradition, government, or language.
Today I agree to do what I can to avoid and/or purge those things where I can, to pray for God’s protection, and to enter into a prayer and accountability relationship with a fellow believer to keep myself safe.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Babylon is Destroyed
18:1 After these things I saw another angel, who possessed great authority, coming down out of heaven, and the earth was lit up by his radiance.
18:2 He shouted with a powerful voice: “Fallen, fallen, is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detested beast.
18:3 “For all the nations have fallen from the wine of her immoral passion, and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have gotten rich from the power of her sensual behavior.”
18:4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, so you will not take part in her sins and so you will not receive her plagues,
18:5 “because her sins have piled up all the way to heaven and God has remembered her crimes.
18:6 “Repay her the same way she repaid others; pay her back double corresponding to her deeds. In the cup she mixed, mix double the amount for her.
18:7 “As much as she exalted herself and lived in sensual luxury, to this extent give her torment and grief because she said to herself, ‘I rule as queen and am no widow; I will never experience grief!’
18:8 “For this reason, she will experience her plagues in a single day: disease, mourning, and famine, and she will be burned down with fire, because the Lord God who judges her is powerful!”
Lord, the philosophies and people who promote evil-rebellion must soon be eliminated by You, and Your children must learn to avoid them in the meanwhile. May I be watchful, warning others, and accepting the wisdom of Your Holy Spirit to avoid evil in my own life.
As discussed in previous weeks the events of Revelation are unlikely to be time-linear but, rather, moving from scenario to scenario to explain different elements of the last days of the end times.
Chapter 18 begins with “After these things ...” then in vs 4 mentions saved people coming out from association with the sinfulness of Babylon, placing that moment clearly prior to the Wrath of God.
The angelic being referenced is not Jesus, any more than the angel in 10:1 was. It has all of the markings of an “archangel” such as Gabriel or Michael.
The angel of the Lord God brings light into a very dark world much as every believer is instructed to bring both light and salt into the world around them.
The discussion of “Babylon” in Rev. 17 may be worth revisiting for perspective.
Selling-out to anything but the Lord God is immoral and is a form of slavery to the lusts of the flesh.
Vs 4 reads like a parallel to the Lord God’s call upon Lot, via Abraham, to flee Sodom and Gomorrah.
The source of encouragement, false prophets and religions, to rebel against the Lordship of God is now punished by God.
The world system, fed by the evil of the enemy, seduces and compromises all who trust it.
What are some good ways to help people to recognize the difference between the things of the Lord God and those of the world, without become too legalistic, yet without compromising with sin?
How different are we when it comes to things of pleasure?
When have you experienced or observed the people of God being persuaded that worldly priorities are acceptable when they clearly are not?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you have been led astray by the community and people around you.
Today I will confess and repent of my drift into unrighteous priorities, I will restructure my life to replace them with the things of God, and I will prayerfully review daily or weekly to assure that I don’t drift back into worldly ways.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
18:9 Then the kings of the earth who committed immoral acts with her and lived in sensual luxury with her will weep and wail for her when they see the smoke from the fire that burns her up.
18:10 They will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment, and will say, “Woe, woe, O great city, Babylon the powerful city! For in a single hour your doom has come!”
18:11 Then the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her because no one buys their cargo any longer – 18:12 cargo such as gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all sorts of things made of citron wood, all sorts of objects made of ivory, all sorts of things made of expensive wood, bronze, iron and marble, 18:13 cinnamon, spice, incense, perfumed ointment, frankincense, wine, olive oil and costly flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and four-wheeled carriages, slaves and human lives. 18:14 (The ripe fruit you greatly desired has gone from you, and all your luxury and splendor have gone from you – they will never ever be found again!)
18:15 The merchants who sold these things, who got rich from her, will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment. They will weep and mourn, 18:16 saying, “Woe, woe, O great city –dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls –18:17a because in a single hour such great wealth has been destroyed!”
18:17b And every ship’s captain, and all who sail along the coast – seamen, and all who make their living from the sea, stood a long way off 18:18 and began to shout when they saw the smoke from the fire that burned her up, “Who is like the great city?”
18:19 And they threw dust on their heads and were shouting with weeping and mourning, “Woe, Woe, O great city – in which all those who had ships on the sea got rich from her wealth – because in a single hour she has been destroyed!”
18:20 (Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has pronounced judgment against her on your behalf!)
18:21 Then one powerful angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone, threw it into the sea, and said, “With this kind of sudden violent force Babylon the great city will be thrown down and it will never be found again!
18:22 And the sound of the harpists, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters will never be heard in you again. No craftsman who practices any trade will ever be found in you again; the noise of a mill will never be heard in you again. 18:23 Even the light from a lamp will never shine in you again! The voices of the bridegroom and his bride will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the tycoons of the world, because all the nations were deceived by your magic spells! 18:24 The blood of the saints and prophets was found in her, along with the blood of all those who had been killed on the earth.”
Lord, You have made no secret of what You love and hate, and have been patient. May I never look back to the past and long to be in those sinful places again.
The longing of the merchants and others for the city being destroyed, because of sin, is a parallel to perspective of Lot’s wife.
Vss 18:9, 15 These people are so obsessed with the things of the world they miss the reality that the same God who destroyed Babylon has the power to destroy or save them.
Vss 17b-19 once again, they miss the point.
Vs 20 is about justice.
The legend of Atlantis probably flowed from an unattributed thread from Revelation or perhaps the OT prophesy upon which it is built, though the mystery in that fable is how and why the great city of Atlantis was suddenly destroyed. There are many such fables which some claim to pre-date the Bible but represent mere fragments of the Biblical story for which the threads of connection have been long-lost. To the direct point of the text, justice is meted-out upon this well-spring of rebellious selfishness.
What terrible blindness those observing the destruction had; they were so consumed with their momentary selfishness that they missed the big-picture reality of Who was doing the destroying and why.
What are some practical ways to parallel the sinful influence “Babylon”, as described here, and that of individuals, institutions, philosophies, and religions today?
How different are we upon the reach of the influence of Babylon and how entangled so much of the world had become – so that they could neither recognize the evil nor could they comprehend that “her” fate was about to become theirs.
When have you observed an example of an individual, institution, philosophy, or religion that has sold-out to “Babylon”.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you have been tolerating a Babylon-like influence for reasons of comfort, convenience, power, or profit.
Today I will partner with the Holy Spirit, and as is appropriate, a fellow believer (for accountability and prayer) to purge that influence from my life – no matter the cost.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – “Revelation” Section – Revelation 4 – 5 – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in June of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Commentary
19:1 After these things I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a vast throng in heaven, saying,
“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
19:2 because his judgments are true and just. For he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and has avenged the blood of his servants poured out by her own hands!”
19:3 Then a second time the crowd shouted, “Hallelujah!” The smoke rises from her forever and ever. 19:4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures threw themselves to the ground and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne, saying: “Amen! Hallelujah!”
19:5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God all you his servants, and all you who fear Him, both the small and the great!”
19:6 Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a vast throng, like the roar of many waters and like loud crashes of thunder. They were shouting: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the All-Powerful, reigns!
19:7 “Let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
19:8 “She was permitted to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen” (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints).
19:9a Then the angel said to me, “Write the following: Blessed are those who are invited to the banquet at the wedding celebration of the Lamb!”
19:9b He also said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
19:10 So I threw myself down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “Do not do this! I am only a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony about Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Lord, Your servants – even the angels – honor Your sovereign right to worship. May I be faithful in never worshiping anyone or anything other than You, my Lord.
In vss 19:1-2 the text describes the implementation of grace-delayed justice.
The phrase “... forever and ever” in vs 3 is a rhetorical flourish best understood in the context of linear created time. Those who are condemned are bonded to the once-created and then-fallen “heavens and earth”; therefore, when the heavens and earth as we know them are obliterated everything associated is also obliterated.
In vss 19:5-7 prophesy is being fulfilled. The “bride” is the “Church”, faithful believers.
In vss 19:8-9a the “saints” are faithful believers. Jesus used the illustration of a “wedding celebration” previously, it was reported in the gospels.
Only the Lord God may be worshiped, Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. No other, no thing, ever.
The Lord God chooses to work through a partnership with believers.
What are some practical ways to know for certain that you are never doing anything that even hints at “worship” of anyone or anything but God?
It is comforting to know that following the Great White Throne Judgment that all rebellion-caused imperfection is replaced by “a new heaven and a new earth”.
When have you experienced the removal of a troublesome person and/or philosophy from a fellowship resulting in a more peaceful experience?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place or places in your life where lies and/or temptations have troubled you.
Today I agree to apply the Word of God in order to receive the gift of God's perspective and power and priorities – and to be set more-free.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Son of God Goes to War
19:11 Then I saw heaven opened and here came a white horse! The one riding it was called “Faithful” and “True” and with justice he judges and goes to war.
19:12 His eyes are like a fiery flame and there are many diadem crowns on his head. He has a name written that no one knows except himself.
19:13 He is dressed in clothing dipped in blood, and he is called the Word of God.
19:14 The armies that are in heaven, dressed in white, clean, fine linen, were following him on white horses.
19:15 From his mouth extends a sharp sword, so that with it he can strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he stomps the winepress of the furious wrath of God, the All-Powerful.
19:16 He has a name written on his clothing and on his thigh: “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
19:17 Then I saw one angel standing in the sun, and he shouted in a loud voice to all the birds flying high in the sky: “Come, gather around for the great banquet of God, 19:18 to eat your fill of the flesh of kings, the flesh of generals, the flesh of powerful people, the flesh of horses and those who ride them, and the flesh of all people, both free and slave, and small and great!”
19:19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to do battle with the one who rode the horse and with his army.
19:20 Now the beast was seized, and along with him the false prophet who had performed the signs on his behalf – signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur.
19:21 The others were killed by the sword that extended from the mouth of the one who rode the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves with their flesh.
Lord, You are omniscient and omnipotent, and You administer irresistible and perfect justice to those who have unrepentantly opposed You. May I never doubt, no matter what may come for a moment, that You will one day obliterate all evil, and all that will remain is You and that which You have made-perfect and have called Your own.
Verses 19:11-13 describe Jesus, arriving to administer closure to the finished work of defeating evil which He declared at the Cross.
Vs 19:14 describes believers who have been made pure in Heaven; according to the implications of Rev 17:4 they may be the same selected sub-set of believers as later described in Rev 20:4, but they are not described as armed nor are they described as involved in any combat – the Word of God as a sword represents the entirety of the very brief battle.
Vss 19:15-16 echo Ephesians 6:17. The sword of the Spirit is the right application of the Word of God in spiritual warfare, and in many matters of day to day living. Here it convicts and condemns those who are in unrepentant rebellion.
Vss 19:17-18 employs a common curse or taunt in OT warfare to declare that birds would feast on the flesh of ones enemy (remember Goliath's taunt and David's reply in 1 Samuel 17:44-47).
In vss 19:19-21 the army of rebellion is destroyed. While the beast and the false prophet are powerful – they are easily cast into the “lake of fire” by Jesus. Their master, Satan, will soon be dealt the final blow.
In the Bible a person's name was rarely, if ever, arbitrary but rather defined or described them; therefore, only the Lord God would know the God-sized name of Jesus.
What are some practical ways to help people to understand “the sword of the Spirit” and how to use it?
It is the Word of God which destroys His enemies.
When have you experienced in your life a practical example of the Word of God destroying the power of lies or of temptations that had previously troubled you?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an opportunity to challenge confusing, false, or incomplete teaching in your family, fellowship, or community.
Today I will respectfully share the complete Biblical truth where I believe that it has been misrepresented. I will pray and will ask at least another to join me in prayer for courage and wisdom.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Thousand Year Reign
20:1 Then I saw an angel descending from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a huge chain.
20:2 He seized the dragon – the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan – and tied him up for a thousand years.
20:3 The angel then threw him into the abyss and locked and sealed it so that he could not deceive the nations until the one thousand years were finished. (After these things he must be released for a brief period of time.)
20:4 Then I saw thrones and seated on them were those who had been given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. These had not worshiped the beast or his image and had refused to receive his mark on their forehead or hand. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
20:5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished.) This is the first resurrection.
20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who takes part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
Lord, You are all-powerful and You fight every meaningful battle. May I rest in the certainty that I am never the source of power or truth but rather an imperfect instrument blessed by You as You pour-out truth into a dark and dying fallen-away world.
Chapter 20 lies along the timeline between the Wrath and the Great White Throne Judgment.
The Tribulation was a high-conflict sifting-out period, some accept the Lordship of Christ and others reject Him.
Some believe that believers will avoid via an early rapture but the Biblical text suggests that the tribulation has already begun and will conclude with the rapture immediately prior to the wrath.
The Biblical text describes the wrath as only for those who have unrepentantly rejected the Lord God - no believers remain on earth during that time – during the wrath Jesus returns and, as described in Rev 19, wins the battle with the Word as a sword (while accompanied by angels and some believers both the battle and the victory are His alone).
A significant power-shift has occurred since a single angel is now empowered lock-up Satan.
The dead are “asleep” (a term repeatedly used by the apostle Paul) until they are incrementally raised by the Lord God; all believers have either died or been raptured, and now a sub-set believers are awakened. Many of those who have rejected the Lord God are also dead.
If the 1,000 year reign is taken literally, then even if everyone lived for 100 years it would still represent 10 generations passing while the martyrs of the tribulation rule – starting with a population exclusively representing the tribulation and wrath-surviving unrepentant rebels against the Lordship of Christ – all 1,000 years also occur while Satan has been removed from the equation (the deceiver/false prophet and the beast have previously been throne into the lake of fire).
Jesus fights the final battle alone and does so with the sword of the Word – truth.
Do we have a right-view of our role in the battle? Is it ever by our power that we have victory? While He allows us to be present is it not always His truth and His power that fights and wins?
Due to the sequence of events there is a shift of power from where Satan – and his most powerful fallen angels - had previously been allowed a somewhat peer relationship with God's archangels (recall an archangel apologizing for being delayed) he is now perfunctorily tossed into prison by a single angel.
When have you felt overwhelmed and experienced the Lord God overcoming for you?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a new and power sense of the importance of learning to submit to His Lordship so as to bear-up under attack for His sake.
Today I will humbly renew my surrender to the Lord God and I will share this with a fellow believer as peer-discipleship and/or as encouragement.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Satan's Final Defeat
20:7 Now when the thousand years are finished, Satan will be released from his prison
20:8 and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to bring them together for the battle. They are as numerous as the grains of sand in the sea.
20:9 They went up on the broad plain of the earth and encircled the camp of the saints and the beloved city,
but fire came down from heaven and devoured them completely.
20:10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur,
where the beast and the false prophet are too,
and they will be tormented there day and night forever and ever.
Lord, no matter how arrogant the enemy nor how great the numbers of the deceived who follow him You are always far more powerful. May I praise You for Your perfect justice and unchanging truth.
Satan is released for a brief time and His deception of the nations persuades those, who have rejected the Lord God, that despite what they have seen of His great power they still can win.
They “encircled the camp of the saints and the beloved city” but nothing is mentioned of any combat as before that happens the Lord God sends down fire and consumes the massive army of Satan.
The phrase “forever and ever” is used again here. Recall that we previously learned that it refers to a period of time in Creation which exists only until the end of created linear time when everything is obliterated and a perfect and pure new heaven and new earth are created.
Satan gets a final chance to deceive and “the nations” a final chance to choose. The “nations” choose poorly because they have rejected the Lordship of Christ.
Why would the Lord God give Satan a final opportunity to tempt “the nations” to attack “the camp of the saints and the beloved city”?
This follows the thousand-year reign of those selected by the Lord God and still the deceived were “... as numerous as the grains of sand in the sea”, showing why they deserved to be destroyed, as they were clearly unredeemable.
When have you observed a person who, despite kindness and love, they still rebelled?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where you feel out-numbered by those who appear able and willing to overwhelm you.
Today I will prayerfully rest in the Lord God who lives in me and Who is able to sustain my faith despite the attack of the enemy.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The Great White Throne
20:11 Then I saw a large white throne
and the one who was seated on it;
the earth and the heaven fled from his presence,
and no place was found for them.
20:12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne.
Then books were opened,
and another book was opened – the book of life.
So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds.
20:13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it,
and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them,
and each one was judged according to his deeds.
20:14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.
This is the second death – the lake of fire.
20:15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.
Lord, Your deadline is known only to You, and You have patiently and sacrificially provided opportunity for each member of humankind to choose. May I be sure of my salvation and generous in sharing Your gospel so that others may also be sure.
The Lord God opens “books”, those which contained the record of everyone's deeds.
Then “… another book was opened – the book of life.”, which contained the list of those who belonged to Jesus and for Whom His substitutional-death and resurrection was effective.
Vs 20:12 describes “the dead” those found in “the sea” and “... Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them”.
It has been speculated that “the sea” was mentioned as those who died in the water were never ritually buried and their standing was in-doubt by some.
“Death” (personified as in 1 Cor. 15:55) has generally been used in the Bible to refer to the holding or resting place of deceased humankind, a dead-end for every living thing in fallen-Creation, other than humankind.
“Hades” was the holding-place, prison, for fallen angels.
The “lake of fire” (or “sea of fire”) already held the “false prophet”, “the beast”, and the “devil” (Satan, the great dragon) and many others, and now it becomes the depository for all whose names were not found in the “Book of Life”.
This is still a linear created time context. This is Step two in the end of linear time and of fallen-Creation. The final Step is reported in Revelation 21.
The apostle Paul taught that the dead are “asleep”, thus unaware of the passage of time until awakened/resurrected by the Lord in either the first, or this – the second resurrection.
How might we do a better job of teaching people about this critical moment in time, before the end of all time, and wherein ones eternity is determined?
There is a sudden irreversible decisiveness of the Great White Throne and the intersection of the books of our deeds and the superseding-power of the Book of Life.
When have you observed an example of someone ignoring a looming deadline and missing it because they waited too long to act?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone for whom He wants you to pray, and probably to share, so that their name may be written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Today I will pray and I will respectfully share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with an unsaved person who has asked questions. I agree to share this chapter with them as a motivation that time is short.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
A New Heaven and a New Earth
21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,
for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist,
and the sea existed no more.
21:2 And I saw the holy city – the new Jerusalem – descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband.
21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Look! The residence of God is among human beings. He will live among them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them.
21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,
and death will not exist any more – or mourning, or crying, or pain,
for the former things have ceased to exist.””
21:5 And the one seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new!”
Then he said to me, “Write it down, because these words are reliable and true.”
21:6 He also said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the one who is thirsty I will give water free of charge from the spring of the water of life.
21:7 The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
21:8 But to the cowards, unbelievers, detestable persons, murderers, the sexually immoral, and those who practice magic spells, idol worshipers, and all those who lie,
their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. That is the second death.”
Lord, You will restore everything to the way it was first made – but even better – and You will share it with those whom You have redeemed for that purpose. May I live day to day with the joy of knowing, despite the imperfections of this fallen-away world, that one day my home will be perfectly with You.
Everything in Creation (heaven and earth) that had existed has been obliterated “... ceased to exist” and replaced.
Not some things but everything “Look! I am making all things new!” this is because “... the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist”
Note the phrase in the text “... and the sea existed no more” The “lake of fire” may also, according to the NET Greek/Hebrew reference, also be rendered “sea of fire”.
With the resurrection of Jesus death had lost its power, even death no longer even exists, “... the former things have ceased to exist.”
While the truly saved already have the indwelling presence of the Lord God via His Holy Spirit, it would seem that Jesus is declaring something far more profound, as now that everything has been made pure and holy it is literally-possible for the first time since pre-Fall Eden for “The residence of God [to be] among human beings.”
Jesus made a linking-proclamation, tying-together His work on the Cross with the actualized conclusion of all things (as presented to John outside of linear time).
Jesus then shifted to a reflective message and away from showing John the future.
Jesus spoke to John about the last days of these end times – instructing him to record His promises to the faithful, and to reminding them of the consequences of rebellion – and to that purpose He listed again a sampling of the sins committed by unrepentant people.
Jesus concluded His warning against rebellion “... their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. That is the second death.” The “second death” has no escape, no possibility of redemption, only Godless-horror then obliteration.
“The one [a saved person] who conquers [those who allow the Holy Spirit to be their strength and who do not deny the Lord] will inherit these things ...” [the new heaven and earth in the presence of the Lord God] “… and I will be his [those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life] God and he [the surrendered-followers who are the Church] will be my son [beloved, family].”
Jesus wanted us to understand both grace and justice; to have an absolute certainty of both.
There will no longer any purpose to anything not “made new”, therefore it ceases to exist. The Lord God throws out the garbage.
What are some examples from the Bible, OT and/or NT where the Lord God has previously “taken out the garbage”, meaning that He obliterated individuals or groups who stood in the way of His promised blessing to His faithful?
The Lord keeps warning that the consequences of rebellion are terrifying and terminal.
When have you experienced or observed rebellious choices resulting in an irreversible ending? (Death, divorce, injury, lost employment.)
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone who has been considering-Christ but who has been procrastinating as to a decision, someone whom He wants you to bring this message.
Today I will humbly and respectfully share this study with someone who may be blessed by the challenge of contrasting eternal endings.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
The New Jerusalem Descends
21:9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven final plagues came and spoke to me, saying,
Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb!”
21:10 So he took me away in the Spirit to a huge, majestic mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.
21:11 The city possesses the glory of God;
its brilliance is like a precious jewel, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper. 21:12 It has a massive, high wall with twelve gates, with twelve angels at the gates, and the names of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel are written on the gates. 21:13 There are three gates on the east side, three gates on the north side, three gates on the south side and three gates on the west side.
21:14 The wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
21:15 The angel who spoke to me had a golden measuring rod with which to measure the city and its foundation stones and wall. 21:16 Now the city is laid out as a square, its length and width the same. He measured the city with the measuring rod at fourteen hundred miles (its length and width and height are equal). 21:17 He also measured its wall, one hundred forty-four cubits according to human measurement, which is also the angel’s. 21:18 The city’s wall is made of jasper and the city is pure gold, like transparent glass. 21:19 The foundations of the city’s wall are decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation is jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 21:20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
21:21 And the twelve gates are twelve pearls – each one of the gates is made from just one pearl! The main street of the city is pure gold, like transparent glass.
21:22 Now I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God – the All-Powerful – and the Lamb are its temple.
21:23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God lights it up, and its lamp is the Lamb.
21:24 The nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their grandeur into it.
21:25 Its gates will never be closed during the day (and there will be no night there).
21:26 They will bring the grandeur and the wealth of the nations into it,
21:27 but nothing ritually unclean will ever enter into it,
nor anyone who does what is detestable or practices falsehood,
but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life – water as clear as crystal – pouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 22:2 flowing down the middle of the city’s main street.
On each side of the river is the tree of life producing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month of the year. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations.
22:3a And there will no longer be any curse,
22:3b … and the throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city. His servants will worship him,
22:4 and they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
22:5 Night will be no more, and they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun,
because the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.
Lord, we have rebelled and resisted, but Your love patiently persisted – testing hearts for a surrendered response to truth – rewarding the right-responses with encouragement, nurturing that seed to salvation. May our grateful thanks pour-out across an eternity with You.
The same angel delivers both judgment, one of the bowls of Wrath, and good news.
In vs 21:10 John reminded his readers that he was not being moved about in the flesh, nor in linear time, but was instead being moved about “in the Spirit”.
John returned to the use of “like” to make it clear that he really could not directly-describe what he was seeing using any point of reference in the created and fallen world of his prior life experience.
John continued to attempt to describe the indescribable. He also appears to be describing once-again many things that he had been show and had recorded earlier.
The earthly temple, even at its most ornate, was a mere shadow of heaven. Observe the parallel between “... the Lord God” and “... the Lamb”, once again affirming the divinity of Christ.
None who are capable of sin exist any longer. Never again will there be rebellion or sin. Those whose names are written in “... the Lamb's book of life” have surrendered their free will, though the Lord God preservers their individuality. “... the grandeur and the wealth of the nations” are the believers “The Church”.
While John does not use the modifier “like”, the finer details of his description remains a “best approximation” using images and words with which he was familiar. The word picture is, however, inspiring to read – though our perception, once there, may vary somewhat from his.
The curse of the Fall will have been obliterated with the rest of fallen-Creation because any who are in Heaven will have been made pure and holy. No rebellion, no sin, ever again.
The imperfect will be destroyed, nothing imperfect may be in the presence of perfection, and according to John's report we will be in the Lord God's presence.
The phrase “reign” is interesting here as there are only the faithful in the “New Jerusalem”, so “reign” should be understood not in terms of a power relationship but more-so in terms of living in the “new Creation” of the “New Jerusalem”.
Only the Lord God can create perfection in beings, apart from Himself, so that they may come into His presence.
What are some practical ways to use this chapter to help believers, and those considering Christ, to visualize the incredible promise of Heaven?
It is an amazing word-picture; the Lord God and the Lamb as “the temple” within Whose presence we are in-worship and in-fellowship, forever.
When have you heard a testimony of the Lord God patiently-persisting in lovingly drawing a resistance person toward His truth and how He nurtured their first right-response toward a second and a third until they finally surrendered?
Ask the Holy Spirit to lead me to set aside some time to worship the Lord God, alone or in fellowship with one or more believers, in a time intentionally set-apart to contemplate Heaven with Him.
Today I agree to share a report of the experience with at least one believer, and perhaps also one person who is considering Christ, as an encouragement to the first and a motivation to the second.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – “Revelation” Section – Revelation 19 – 22:5 – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in July of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
A Final Reminder
22:6 Then the angel said to me, “These words are reliable and true.
“The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets,
has sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon.”
22:7 ”(Look! I am coming soon!
“Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy expressed in this book.)”
Lord, You are the always-reliable One, the source of truth, and the keeper of the integrity of Your Word. May I be confident that no matter the schemes of man or fallen-angel, beast or deceiver, or Satan himself, Your truth and power and promise will always prevail.
The angel quoted what Jesus had said to John previously about the reliability of the words; in the prior statement Jesus cited His deity and the self-affirmation of the Lord God.
“The Lord” is such because He is the only legitimate “God of the spirits of the prophets”, the One who gave to them authority, power, and wisdom.
The phrase “... to show his servants” implies via John, but given that John is the one to whom he is speaking and is the one who is recording what he hears and is shown, it was unnecessary.
The phrase “... what must happen soon” is a reminder to the reader that what John recorded had not yet occurred. In Biblical terms “soon” would refer to the earliest step in the process, rather than the entire process.
The angel then quoted Jesus again as to His imminent return and that He (Jesus) was the blessed One Who would keep (protect and share as well as to enforce the conditional quid pro quo's of) the prophesies of the Book.
The Lord God was very intentional in His repetition of the credentials of His Word as truth.
What are some examples of ways that you could demonstrate the integrity of the Word, and at the same time the integrity of the One Who has given it to us, by testing the accuracy of the prophesies?
It was and is important that the Word is “shown” to “His servants”; we call that discipleship as the term refers to those who belong to the Lord God.
When have you observed someone in discipleship where the sharing of the Word transformed them from confused and weak to confident and strong?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an opportunity to share the Word.
Today I am choosing to make time to walk alongside someone in discipleship so that they may come to know and understand (gain wisdom) from the Word of God.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
22:8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw them, I threw myself down to worship at the feet of the angel who was showing them to me.
22:9 But he said to me, “Do not do this! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets, and with those who obey the words of this book. Worship God!”
22:10 Then he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy contained in this book, because the time is near.
22:11 The evildoer must continue to do evil, and the one who is morally filthy must continue to be filthy.
The one who is righteous must continue to act righteously, and the one who is holy must continue to be holy.”
Lord, You are worthy, none other than You are. Your story must be told as Your plan of justice and redemption unfold. May I share Your story and walk in Your light.
John returned to the theme of his early text where he affirmed his first-hand experience which prompted his authorship.
He was also so overwhelmed by the whole experience that his reaction was to worship the first heavenly being before him – this is similar to the interaction described earlier, but may be a repeat because the angel refers to a completed “book” which John had not yet heard and seen and written in the first case.
Only the Lord God rightfully accepts worship – any other person or being who allows anyone to worship them in any way is a heretic to the true Biblical faith. (The terms recreant or deceiver or false god may be applied as well. This includes political leaders, religious leaders, celebrities, and fallen angels.
The angel explains to him that he is a peer with John “and … fellow prophets” as well as with all who obey the Word. He then directs John to “Worship [only] God!”
The angel reminded John to share the Word, repeating what Jesus had told him, and reminded him that the time was short (from a heavenly perspective) – so that there was urgency to tell The Story.
John was also reminded that the Lord would allow the fallen-away world to continue to thrash about, evil living evil, righteous living righteously (each influencing the other, the righteous accepting the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit despite their weak flesh).
Evil is practiced constantly among the fallen angels and righteousness perfectly so in Heaven, here on the fallen-away earth both are somewhat unpredictable.
Prophesy mostly re-tells the past and only partly foreshadows the future; both are valuable to a right understanding of our Lord and His expectations of us. Prophesy serves to confront us all with truth.
John may have repeated the error of attempting worship of the angel in his confusion and probable emotional and mental exhaustion.
What are some practical ways to motivate people to read and study the Word?
We must expect the evil to act evil and the righteous to try to behave righteously; though evil may be a more natural path for the Godless than righteousness is for the saved person trapped in what the apostle Paul called “this body of death”.
When have you observed the contrast between Godless people appearing unable to make good choices and the children of God trying to do so?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a fellow believer who would be blessed to read this and encouraged to know that while the Godless lack the power to resist evil, they do.
Today I will ask the Holy Spirit to use me as His vessel of discipleship and encouragement to a fellow believer so that they may persist in seeking righteousness and in resisting evil.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
22:12 (Look! I am coming soon,
and my reward is with me
to pay each one according to what he has done!
22:13 I am the Alpha
and the Omega,
the first and the last,
the beginning and the end!)
Lord, You are returning, we have not been abandoned nor left alone. You are in control and you bring purpose where humankind has wrought chaos. May I be encouraged to know that You give purpose to Creation, even in its fallen-away condition.
Our Lord is returning, His timing is perfect, and the term “soon” means that there is a definite time which is relative to all of Created time, though seen through the eyes of One who is eternal.
The Lord brings perfect justice.
The Lord has “books” which contain the records of our deeds.
Each will receive what they are due, although those whose names are in the Lamb's Book of Life are only due that remains after He paid for our sins, which leaves nothing punitive.
“Alpha” means the beginning, He has always been, and He is the Creator; the original Creation and the new Creation of a new and perfect heaven and earth.
“Omega” means the conclusion of things; the end of Creation, the end of conflict, the end of separation between the Lord and His beloved created beings.
He was the first to be worthy of salvation, because He (Jesus) lived without sin, and He is the last to do so, as He provided the way for all who followed Him.
He was there at the beginning of all Creation, and He is the end, as His purpose will have been completed and met.
The Lord God is not confined by anything in Creation, He is far above and apart from the constraints of linear time.
There is a conclusion to everything, perfectly timed, and perfectly executed.
How might making people aware that the Lord God is keeping a record of deeds make them more introspective?
The perfect justice of the Lord God is tempered by His perfect grace.
When have you paused in reflection, praise, and worship of a magnificent Lord Who is the beginning and the end?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a pattern of choices in your life which you'd not like to continue to show up in the books of the Lord God, even if covered by grace through Jesus.
Today I will humbly confess and repent of my sin, request and receive the forgiveness of the Lord, and then I will intentionally alter my life (including adding accountability from a fellow believer) to avoid failing the test – allowing it to become temptation and sin.
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22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes
so they can have access to the tree of life
and can enter into the city by the gates.
22:15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the sexually immoral, and the murderers, and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood!”
Lord, only those who are unreservedly and irrevocably devoted to You will receive eternal life from the “tree of life”. As it was in the beginning in the Garden, so it has always been, and always will be.
The first phrase in this text returns to that found in Rev. 7:14; the washing of a robe describes the atoning value of the blood of Jesus - it was though their perseverance in the faith, not by their own strength but in the strength of the Holy Spirit, that they were rendered righteous.
Through the imparted-righteousness of Jesus they, and we, have our names written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
There is only one way into the eternal city of the Lord God, and that is through the gates; and the “gatekeeper” only allows passage to those whose name are in the Book of Life.
He then lists some generic illustrative categories of those who will not enter heaven as yet another affirmation that the Lord God will not allow anyone capable of sin into heaven.
It is not intended that one think of the “city” as surrounded by the unrighteous who assault the gates and walls seeking admission, there is no Biblical evidence for that, indeed the evidence points to the absence of any but those in the Book of Life at the conclusion of things.
Righteousness comes from Jesus, the strength to endure from the Holy Spirit, all that we contribute is a surrendered heart.
How would you help disciples to recognize the consistency of the Lord God's message from Genesis through Revelation, using the “tree of life” as an illustration?
The “gates” are symbolic of the limited access humankind has to heaven.
When have you experienced or observed someone suffering for their faith, knowing that you or they lacked the strength to endure alone, and amazed at the strength they received from the Lord?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone who has been deceived about limited access to heaven and/or who is ignorant of the consistency of message from Genesis through Revelation.
Today I will humbly and respectfully share these texts with the one whom the Holy Spirit has made known to me. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement that I may be His vessel of freedom through truth.
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22:16 “I, Jesus,
have sent my angel
to testify to you about these things
for the churches.
“I am the root and the descendant of David,
the bright morning star!”
22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!'
“And let the one who hears say: 'Come!'
“And let the one who is thirsty come;
let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge.”
Lord, You are indeed the “morning star” of hope and promise and of fulfillment of a new and perfect day. May I have joy, and may I share the reason for my joy, so that many may and find You as this broken vessel leaks and overflows with Your loving invitation.
It is unclear how Jesus spoke with John, perhaps indirectly rather than directly.
The glory of the Lord God was returned to Jesus when He ascended, so it may have been that even “in the spirit” John could not have been in the true presence of Jesus, thus the sending of an angel to communicate the message.
Jesus affirmed the credentials of the message by associating Himself with it.
The message was given to John and again it was affirmed that it was for “the Church”, all believers. (According to the NET Greek/Hebrew reference the text could have fairly been rendered:
“... for the assembled believers.” or “... for the church universal.” or “... for all believers.”
Jesus echoes prophesy as He was the beginning “root” of humankind “... made in Our image”, he was of the “shoot of Jesse” (Isaiah 1:11) that led to being a “descendant” of David in His human form; then also, He is the new beginning “the bright morning star” bringing a new day of eternal life.
The “Spirit” and “the bride”, the church, both present the Gospel of invitation from Jesus “Come!”.
The one who hears responds to Jesus and says “Come!” and the Spirit inspires understanding in a teachable/willing heart.
The one who is made-thirsty by the Truth comes to Jesus for the water of eternal life and the constant-filling that is discipleship and later eternity in heaven.
This text includes yet another affirmation that salvation requires a mutual agreement.
Jesus left nothing to chance as He personally addressed John to clarify the heart of the message he had been given, and to underline the divine authority and truth therein.
How would you tell the story of the linkage between the “root” and the “descentant” history and prophesy of Jesus and David?
The participants and steps to salvation are stated: The Spirit, the Church, the teachable person; the invitation “Come!”, the reply of the person to the Spirit and Church to teach, the “thirst” of the person for “living water” and the gift of that living water through salvation – and beyond as the life of discipleship and then of eternity in heaven.
When have you visualize Jesus as the “bright morning star” of a new day of eternal life?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a new way to make Jesus the “bright morning star” of every day of your life until You are with Him in heaven.
Today I will humbly and joyfully accept the gift of Jesus to be my “bright morning star” every day as I put on the “full armor of God”, rest peacefully and safely in-Him by the “still waters”, “stand” in His strength, have courage as I tell His story, and joyfully allow my broken vessel to leak and overflow with His blessings for others.
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22:18 “I testify to the one who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book:
“If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.
22:19 “And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.”
Lord, You alone have the authority and holiness to create Your Word, and any who dare alter it are beyond-apostate. May I be careful to never add or subtract from Your sovereign Word, and watchful for those who may do so, warning them of their error and others against falling prey to their deception.
Jesus, having just testified (vss 22:16-17) to His identity and deity, then to the authority and truth of His Word, now addresses the terms of protection of “the book”.
There has been some debate as to the intended meaning of the term “this book”.
Some believe it to refer only to the book of Revelation, or perhaps even a subset of Revelation, while others take it to refer to the entirety of the Lord God's Book, the Bible.
There is nothing in the text of Revelation to support a narrow application.
The latter view parallels the teaching of Deuteronomy 4:2 “Do not add a thing to what I command you nor subtract from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I am delivering to you.”
Since Deuteronomy is one of the earliest books of the Bible, and Revelation is at the end, it is reasonable to conclude that the common phraseology is intentional – designed to defend the entirety of God's Word.
Intentionally adding or subtracting from the sovereign Word of God might be considered equivalent to “blaspheming the Spirit” since it is essentially a declaration that the Serpent in the Garden was right, the Holy Spirit is wrong in declaring the sovereign authority of the Lord, and that one is therefore a peer - worthy to alter His Word.
What are some examples of cults which claim to be “Christian” but clearly are not Biblical-Christian because their religious book adds and/or subtracts from “the book”?
Adding to the Word brings the plagues of the Wrath, subtracting from the Word means certain banishment from eternity in Heaven, both are really the same thing – because believers are not exposed to the Wrath.
When have you observed someone adding and/or subtracting in a subtle way from “the book” in an otherwise Biblical-Christian fellowship?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you something that you believe about the Bible that is a result of someone adding and/or subtracting from “the book”.
Today I will ask one who meets the Biblical definition of “elder” to assist as I seek clarity. I will share my experience with a fellow believer as an encouragement to them to do the same.
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22:20 The one who testifies to these things says,
“Yes, I am coming soon!”
Amen!
Come, Lord Jesus!
22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.
Lord, You have “returned” via Your Holy Spirit, via Your Word, and via Your communication with us through prayer. May I be found faithful in “praying without ceasing”, studying Your Word, and following the leading of Your Holy Spirit.
John recorded a final declaration of the credentials of the Bible and then celebrated the coming of Jesus (yesterday, today, tomorrow, and at the end of created time) to bring hope and salvation.
Jesus will return because He promised redemption at the Fall in the Garden, the prophesies He placed in the Bible say that He will (and every prophesy has been fulfilled), He promised to return just before He ascended home to heaven, and now at the conclusion of Revelation He promised to do so yet again.
“Amen” at the conclusion of a text means that the contents are trustworthy, the fulfillment of promises are certain, and/or the speaker agrees to meet the requirements of conditional promises so that they may be kept.
“Lord Jesus” is an affirmation of the deity of Christ and of ones surrender to His Lordship.
The phrase “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” is a declaration by John of his longing for the return of our Lord, Jesus the Christ.
John's benediction “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.” does not mean universal salvation, though surely his desire would be that all would choose salvation, in this case the NET Greek-Hebrew reference explains that it is a reference to all of the “saints” (elsewhere described as believers).
When the Lord repeats Himself He wants us to be sure to get the message – He has repeated His promise to return multiple times in His Word. He is coming back for us!
In how many places in the Bible, old and new testaments, do you recall the promise of return and redemption?
How must John have cried-out in existential angst for the quick return of he Lord, having been abused then imprisoned by man then lifted by the Lord in the spirit from his body into heaven, then about to be returned to that anti-heavenly place?
How often have you, frustrated with this fallen-away world, cried-out for the Lord to hurry His return?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you some ways that the Lord has already “returned” in small but real ways into your life as His child.
Today I will pause and give grateful thanks for all that the Lord God has already done in my life and I will join the apostle John in a prayer of agreement for the return of my Lord Jesus.
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All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – “Revelation” Section – Revelation 4 – 5 – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in June of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.