Saturday, October 3, 2015
1 Corinthians 12
1 Corinthians 12 (New International Version, ©2010)
1 Corinthians 12
Concerning Spiritual Gifts
1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Unity and Diversity in the Body
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
1 Corinthians 12
Concerning Spiritual Gifts
1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Unity and Diversity in the Body
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Revelation 4
Revelation 4 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 4
The Throne in Heaven
1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,'[b] who was, and is, and is to come."
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
Revelation 4
The Throne in Heaven
1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,'[b] who was, and is, and is to come."
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
Friday, October 2, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 15
Matthew 8:14-34; Mark 4:1-41; Mark
5:1-43 (New International Version)
14 When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw
Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15He touched her
hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. 16 When
evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove
out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This
was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our
infirmities and carried our diseases."
18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave
orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19Then a teacher of
the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you
go." 20Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of
the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his
head." 21 Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first
let me go and bury my father." 22 But Jesus told
him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples
followed him. 24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on
the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The
disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to
drown!" 26 He replied, "You of little faith,
why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the
waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and
asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey
him!"
28 When he arrived at the other side in the
region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him.
They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 "What
do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here
to torture us before the appointed time?" 30 Some
distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The
demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of
pigs." 32 He said to them, "Go!" So
they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep
bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the
pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had
happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town
went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave
their region.
1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The
crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in
it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's
edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his
teaching said: 3 "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As
he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and
ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have
much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But
when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they
had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and
choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still
other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying
thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times." 9 Then Jesus
said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." 10 When
he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the
parables. 11 He told them, "The secret of the
kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is
said in parables 12 so that, " 'they may be ever seeing
but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they
might turn and be forgiven!' "13 Then Jesus said to
them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you
understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some
people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they
hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.16 Others,
like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with
joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short
time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall
away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the
word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of
wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it
unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the
word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what
was sown."
21 He said to them, "Do you bring in a
lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? 22 For
whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant
to be brought out into the open. 23 If anyone has ears to
hear, let him hear." 24 "Consider carefully what you
hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be
measured to you--and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given
more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."
26 He also said, "This is what the
kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27Night
and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he
does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces
grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As
soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has
come."
30 Again he said, "What shall we say
the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It
is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the
ground. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest
of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can
perch in its shade." 33 With many similar parables Jesus
spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He
did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone
with his own disciples, he explained everything.
35 That day when evening came, he said to his
disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36Leaving
the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were
also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and
the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus
was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to
him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" 39 He
got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves,"Quiet! Be
still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He
said to his disciples,"Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no
faith?" 41 They were terrified and asked each other,
"Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
1 They went across the lake to the region of the
Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an
evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived
in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4 For
he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke
the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5Night
and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with
stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell
on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his
voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear
to God that you won't torture me!" 8 For Jesus had said
to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" 9 Then
Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is
Legion," he replied, "for we are many." 10 And
he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A
large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The
demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into
them." 13 He gave them permission, and the evil spirits
came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed
down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 14Those tending
the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people
went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus,
they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there,
dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.16 Those who
had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man--and
told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead
with Jesus to leave their region. 18As Jesus was getting into the
boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.19 Jesus
did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how
much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20 So
the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done
for him. And all the people were amazed.
21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to
the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by
the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus,
came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet 23 and pleaded
earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your
hands on her so that she will be healed and live." 24 So
Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And
a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She
had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she
had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she
heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his
cloak, 28 because she thought, "If I just touch his
clothes, I will be healed." 29 Immediately her bleeding
stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At
once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the
crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" 31 "You
see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and
yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' " 32 But
Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the
woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and,
trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to
her,"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from
your suffering." 35 While Jesus was still speaking, some
men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is
dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher any more?" 36 Ignoring
what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid;
just believe." 37 He did not let anyone follow him except
Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came
to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying
and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to
them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but
asleep." 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them
all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with
him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the
hand and said to her, ""Talitha koum!"" (which
means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"). 42 Immediately
the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they
were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to
let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
1 Corinthians 11
1 Corinthians 11 (New International Version, ©2010)
1 Corinthians 11
1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
On Covering the Head in Worship
2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man,[a] and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
7 A man ought not to cover his head,[b] since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own[c] head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
Correcting an Abuse of the Lord's Supper
17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.
1 Corinthians 11
1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
On Covering the Head in Worship
2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man,[a] and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
7 A man ought not to cover his head,[b] since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own[c] head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
Correcting an Abuse of the Lord's Supper
17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.
Revelation 3
Revelation 3 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 3
To the Church in Sardis
1 "To the angel[a] of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b] of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the Church in Philadelphia 7 "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the Church in Laodicea 14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Revelation 3
To the Church in Sardis
1 "To the angel[a] of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b] of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the Church in Philadelphia 7 "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the Church in Laodicea 14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 14
Matthew 13:1-58; Luke 8:1-56 (New
International Version)
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and
sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that
he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the
shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables,
saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he
was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate
it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much
soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But
when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they
had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and
choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where
it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He
who has ears, let him hear." 10 The disciples came to him
and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"11 He
replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has
been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be
given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he
has will be taken from him. 13 This is why I speak to them in
parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not
hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of
Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be
ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people's heart
has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed
their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' 16 But
blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For
I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you
see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. 18"Listen
then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone
hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one
comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along
the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky
places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But
since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution
comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one
who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word,
but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making
it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell
on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a
crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
24 Jesus told them another
parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in
his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came
and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the
wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27"The
owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your
field? Where then did the weeds come from?' 28 " 'An
enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to
go and pull them up?' 29 " 'No,' he answered, 'because
while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30 Let
both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters:
First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the
wheat and bring it into my barn.' "
31 He told them another parable: "The
kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his
field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet
when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that
the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." 33 He
told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast
that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all
through the dough." 34 Jesus spoke all these things to
the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So
was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth
in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the
house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of
the weeds in the field." 37 He answered, "The
one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is
the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are
the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is
the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are
angels. 40 "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire,
so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will
send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that
causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into
the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then
the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who
has ears, let him hear.
44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure
hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy
went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 "Again,
the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When
he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought
it.
47 "Once again, the kingdom of heaven is
like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When
it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and
collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This
is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the
wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery
furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 "Have
you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they
replied. 52 He said to them, "Therefore every
teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like
the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as
old."
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he
moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began
teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did
this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. 55 "Isn't
this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers
James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren't all his sisters with
us? Where then did this man get all these things?" 57 And
they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Only in his
hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 58 And
he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town
and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The
Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured
of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons
had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of
Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to
support them out of their own means. 4 While a large crowd was
gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this
parable: 5 "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was
scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the
birds of the air ate it up. 6 Some fell on rock, and when it
came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other
seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still
other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times
more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He
who has ears to hear, let him hear." 9 His disciples
asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, "The
knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to
others I speak in parables, so that, " 'though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.' 11 "This is the
meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those
along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away
the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those
on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but
they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they
fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those
who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches
and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good
soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain
it, and by persevering produce a crop.
16 "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a
jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who
come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that
will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought
out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you
listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he
thinks he has will be taken from him."
19 Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see
him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone
told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see
you." 21 He replied, "My mother and brothers
are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."
22 One day Jesus said to his
disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the
lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As
they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat
was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24 The
disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to
drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm
subsided, and all was calm. 25 "Where is your
faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one
another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they
obey him."
26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,
which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped
ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this
man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When
he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his
voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg
you, don't torture me!" 29 For Jesus had commanded the
evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he
was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and
had been driven by the demon into solitary places.30 Jesus asked
him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied,
because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged him
repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. 32 A large
herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let
them go into them, and he gave them permission. 33 When the
demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down
the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34 When those tending
the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and
countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had
happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had
gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were
afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the
demon-possessed man had been cured.37 Then all the people of the
region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome
with fear. So he got into the boat and left. 38 The man from
whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away,
saying, 39 "Return home and tell how much God has done
for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus
had done for him.
40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed
him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named
Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with
him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl
of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed
him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding
for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up
behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding
stopped. 45 "Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When
they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and
pressing against you." 46 But Jesus said,"Someone
touched me; I know that power has gone out from me." 47 Then
the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at
his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him
and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to
her,"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." 49 While
Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue
ruler. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the
teacher any more." 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to
Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be
healed." 51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he
did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's
father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing
and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus
said. "She is not dead but asleep." 53 They
laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her
by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" 55 Her
spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something
to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them
not to tell anyone what had happened.
1 Corinthians 10
1 Corinthians 10 (New International Version, ©2010)
1 Corinthians 10
Warnings From Israel's History
1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry."[a] 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ,[b] as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Idol Feasts and the Lord's Supper
14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
The Believer's Freedom
23 "I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."[f]
27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person's conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another's conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
1 Corinthians 10
Warnings From Israel's History
1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry."[a] 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ,[b] as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Idol Feasts and the Lord's Supper
14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
The Believer's Freedom
23 "I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."[f]
27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person's conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another's conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
Revelation 2
Revelation 2 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 2
To the Church in Ephesus
1 "To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
To the Church in Smyrna 8 "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown. 11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
To the Church in Pergamum 12 "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
To the Church in Thyatira 18 "To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets, 'I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.' 26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one 'will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery'[b]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 2
To the Church in Ephesus
1 "To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
To the Church in Smyrna 8 "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown. 11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
To the Church in Pergamum 12 "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
To the Church in Thyatira 18 "To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets, 'I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.' 26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one 'will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery'[b]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 13
Matthew 12:22-50; Luke 11:1-54 (New
International Version)
22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute,
and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished
and said, "Could this be the Son of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard
this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this
fellow drives out demons." 25 Jesus
knew their thoughts and said to them,"Every kingdom divided against itself
will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not
stand. 26 If Satan
drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom
stand? 27 And if I
drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then,
they will be your judges. 28 But
if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come
upon you. 29 "Or
again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions
unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. 30 "He who is not with me is
against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every sin
and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will
not be forgiven. 32Anyone
who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who
speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in
the age to come. 33 "Make
a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will
be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?
For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good
things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things
out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But
I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every
careless word they have spoken. 37 For
by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be
condemned."
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him,
"Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." 39 He answered, "A
wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be
given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly
of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the
heart of the earth. 41 The
men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn
it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah
is here. 42 The Queen
of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for
she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one
greater than Solomon is here. 43 "When
an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and
does not find it. 44 Then
it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the
house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more
wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of
that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked
generation."
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers
stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing
outside, wanting to speak to you." 48 He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who
are my brothers?" 49 Pointing
to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of
my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one
of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught
his disciples." 2 He
said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be your
name, your kingdom come. 3 Give
us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive
us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not
into temptation. ' " 5Then
he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him
at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a
journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' 7 "Then the one inside
answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with
me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the
bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get
up and give him as much as he needs. 9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks
receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be
opened. 11 "Which
of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake
instead? 12 Or if he
asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good
gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy
Spirit to those who ask him!"
14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left,
the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said,
"By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons." 16 Others tested him by asking
for a sign from heaven. 17 Jesus
knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against
itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against
himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive
out demons by Beelzebub. 19 Now
if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out?
So then, they will be your judges. 20 But
if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to
you. 21 "When a
strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger
attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted
and divides up the spoils. 23 "He
who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me,
scatters. 24"When an
evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and
does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' 25 When it arrives, it finds the
house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked
than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man
is worse than the first." 27 As
Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed
is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you." 28 He replied, "Blessed
rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, "This is a wicked
generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the
sign of Jonah. 30 For
as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this
generation. 31 The
Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation
and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to
Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand
up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at
the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.
33 "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be
hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who
come in may see the light. 34 Your
eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is
full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the
light within you is not darkness. 36Therefore,
if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be
completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you."
37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat
with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash
before the meal, was surprised. 39 Then
the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of
the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You foolish people! Did not
the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give what is inside [the dish] to the poor, and
everything will be clean for you. 42 "Woe
to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other
kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should
have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. 43 "Woe to you Pharisees,
because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in
the marketplaces. 44 "Woe
to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without
knowing it." 45 One
of the experts in the law answered him, "Teacher, when you say these
things, you insult us also." 46 Jesus
replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load
people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not
lift one finger to help them. 47 "Woe
to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers
who killed them. 48 So
you testify that you approve of what your forefathers did; they killed the
prophets, and you build their tombs. 49Because of this, God in his wisdom said, 'I will send them
prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will
persecute.' 50 Therefore
this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that
has been shed since the beginning of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was
killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation
will be held responsible for it all. 52 "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have
taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have
hindered those who were entering." 53 When Jesus left there, the Pharisees and the teachers of
the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, 54 waiting to catch him in
something he might say.
1 Corinthians 9
1 Corinthians 9 (New International Version, ©2010)
1 Corinthians 9
Paul's Rights as an Apostle
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don't we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas[a]? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?
7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain."[b] Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Don't you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.
Paul's Use of His Freedom
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
The Need for Self-Discipline
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
1 Corinthians 9
Paul's Rights as an Apostle
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don't we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas[a]? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?
7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain."[b] Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Don't you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.
Paul's Use of His Freedom
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
The Need for Self-Discipline
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)