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Monday, December 14, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 65
2 Corinthians 1; 2
Corinthians 2; 2 Corinthians 3; 2 Corinthians 4
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and
Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the
saints throughout Achaia: 2 Grace and peace to you from God
our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise be to the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all
comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can
comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from
God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our
lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6 If we
are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it
is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same
sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because
we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our
comfort. 8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers,
about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great
pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed,
in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might
not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He
has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we
have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as
you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the
gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. 12 Now
this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in
the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and
sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom
but according to God's grace. 13 For we do not write you
anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as
you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can
boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus. 15 Because
I was confident of this, I planned to visit you first so that you might benefit
twice.16 I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come
back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to
Judea. 17 When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I
make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes,
yes" and "No, no"? 18 But as surely as God is
faithful, our message to you is not "Yes" and "No." 19 For
the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and
Timothy, was not "Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been
"Yes." 20 For no matter how many promises God has
made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the
"Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now
it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set
his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit,
guaranteeing what is to come. 23 I call God as my witness that
it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. 24 Not
that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it
is by faith you stand firm.
1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful
visit to you. 2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me
glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did so that
when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I
had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For
I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not
to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you. 5 If
anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of
you, to some extent--not to put it too severely. 6 The
punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7 Now
instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be
overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to
reaffirm your love for him. 9 The reason I wrote you was to
see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 If
you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven--if there was
anything to forgive--I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your
sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are
not unaware of his schemes. 12 Now when I went to Troas to
preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, 13 I
still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I
said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia. 14But thanks be to
God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us
spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15 For
we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who
are perishing. 16 To the one we are the smell of death; to the
other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike
so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in
Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we
need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You
yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by
everybody. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the
result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living
God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4Such
confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. 5 Not
that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our
competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as
ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter
kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministry that
brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that
the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its
glory, fading though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the
Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that condemns
men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings
righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in
comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was
fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which
lasts! 12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very
bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his
face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading
away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the
same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed,
because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day
when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But
whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now
the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the
Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing
glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
1 Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this
ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced
secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word
of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend
ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And
even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The
god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see
the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For
we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your
servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light
shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the
light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 But
we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is
from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side,
but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;9 persecuted, but
not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always
carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also
be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always
being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in
our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life
is at work in you. 13 It is written: "I believed;
therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe
and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who
raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present
us with you in his presence. 15 All this is for your benefit,
so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving
to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose
heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed
day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are
achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So
we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is
temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Psalm 13
Psalm 13 (New International Version)
Psalm 13
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.
Psalm 13
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.
Revelation 8
Revelation 8 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 8
The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer
1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God's people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
The Trumpets
6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. 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 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood.[a] A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.
13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"
Revelation 8
The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer
1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God's people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
The Trumpets
6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. 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 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood.[a] A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.
13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Psalm 12
Psalm 12 (New International Version)
Psalm 12
For the director of music. According to sheminith . A psalm of David. [a]
1 Help, LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.
2 Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.
3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue
4 that says, "We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips [b] —who is our master?"
5 "Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says the LORD. "I will protect them from those who malign them."
6 And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.
7 O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever.
8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.
Psalm 12
For the director of music. According to sheminith . A psalm of David. [a]
1 Help, LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.
2 Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.
3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue
4 that says, "We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips [b] —who is our master?"
5 "Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says the LORD. "I will protect them from those who malign them."
6 And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.
7 O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever.
8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.
Revelation 7
Revelation 7 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 7
144,000 Sealed
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
The Great Multitude in White Robes
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!"
13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"
14 I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 'Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,'[a] nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
'he will lead them to springs of living water.'[b] 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'[c]"
Revelation 7
144,000 Sealed
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
The Great Multitude in White Robes
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!"
13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"
14 I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 'Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,'[a] nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
'he will lead them to springs of living water.'[b] 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'[c]"
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Psalm 11
Psalm 11 (New International Version)
Psalm 11
For the director of music. Of David.
1 In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: "Flee like a bird to your mountain.
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do [a] ?"
4 The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them.
5 The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked [b] and those who love violence his soul hates.
6 On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot.
7 For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face.
Psalm 11
For the director of music. Of David.
1 In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: "Flee like a bird to your mountain.
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do [a] ?"
4 The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them.
5 The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked [b] and those who love violence his soul hates.
6 On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot.
7 For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face.
Revelation 6
Revelation 6 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 6
The Seals
1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.
5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "Two pounds[a] of wheat for a day's wages,[b] and six pounds[c] of barley for a day's wages,[d] and do not damage the oil and the wine!"
7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[e] were killed just as they had been.
12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us[f] from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their[g] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?"
Revelation 6
The Seals
1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.
5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "Two pounds[a] of wheat for a day's wages,[b] and six pounds[c] of barley for a day's wages,[d] and do not damage the oil and the wine!"
7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[e] were killed just as they had been.
12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us[f] from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their[g] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?"
Friday, December 11, 2015
Revelation 5
Revelation 5 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 5
The Scroll and the Lamb
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits[a] of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign[b] on the earth."
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"
14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 5
The Scroll and the Lamb
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits[a] of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign[b] on the earth."
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"
14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Psalm 10
Psalm 10 (New International Version)
Psalm 10
1 [a]Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
5 His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies.
6 He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble."
7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims.
9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees."
12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"?
14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out.
16 The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.
17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.
Psalm 10
1 [a]Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
5 His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies.
6 He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble."
7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims.
9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees."
12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"?
14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out.
16 The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.
17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.
Chronological New Testament Study Day 64
1 Corinthians 15; 1
Corinthians 16
1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I
preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your
stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to
the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For
what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for
our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and
that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After
that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time,
most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then
he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of
all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 9 For I
am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the church of God.10 But by the grace of God I
am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder
than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether,
then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. 12 But
if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of
you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there
is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And
if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your
faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false
witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from
the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For
if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And
if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your
sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are
lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are
to be pitied more than all men. 20 But Christ has indeed been
raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For
since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through
a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be
made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits;
then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end
will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has
destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must
reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.26 The last
enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he "has put
everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything"
has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who
put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then
the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so
that God may be all in all. 29 Now if there is no
resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are
not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30 And as
for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I die
every day--I mean that, brothers--just as surely as I glory over you in Christ
Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for
merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let
us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." 33 Do not be
misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 34Come
back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are
ignorant of God--I say this to your shame. 35 But someone may
ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they
come?" 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life
unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body
that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38But
God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its
own body. 39 All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of
flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another.40 There
are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the
heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is
another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another
and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. 42 So
will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is
perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in
dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in
power; 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. 45 So
it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last
Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come
first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The
first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48 As
was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from
heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we
have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of
the man from heaven. 50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh
and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit
the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not
all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52 in a flash, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead
will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For
the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with
immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the
imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written
will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where,
O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"56 The
sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But
thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore,
my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves
fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is
not in vain.
1 Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told
the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week,
each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income,
saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then,
when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and
send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable
for me to go also, they will accompany me. 5 After I go
through Macedonia, I will come to you--for I will be going through
Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even
spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 I
do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some
time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay on at
Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective
work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me. 10 If
Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for
he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. 11 No
one, then, should refuse to accept him. Send him on his way in peace so that he
may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.12 Now
about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers.
He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the
opportunity. 13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be
men of courage; be strong. 14 Do everything in love. 15 You
know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and
they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you,
brothers, 16 to submit to such as these and to everyone who
joins in the work, and labors at it. 17 I was glad when
Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was
lacking from you. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours
also. Such men deserve recognition. 19 The churches in the
province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in
the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. 20 All
the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 21 I,
Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. 22 If anyone does
not love the Lord --a curse be on him. Come, O Lord ! 23 The
grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love to all of you
in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 63
1 Corinthians 12; 1
Corinthians 13; 1 Corinthians 14
1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to
be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or
other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore
I tell you 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. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same
Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God
works all of them in all men. 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 the message of wisdom, to another the
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, and to
still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are
the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he
determines. 12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of
many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is
with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into
one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one
Spirit to drink. 14Now the body is not made up of one part but of
many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a
hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to
be 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 cease to be 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 arranged 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 combined the
members of the body and has given 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 in the church God has
appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers
of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others,
those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in 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 ? Do all interpret? 31 But
eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent
way.
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have
not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If
I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and
if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am
nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender
my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love
is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not
proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not
easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not
delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.7 It always protects,
always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never
fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are
tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass
away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but
when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was
a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a
child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now
we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.
Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And
now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is
love.
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts,
especially the gift of prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a
tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he
utters mysteries with his spirit. 3 But everyone who prophesies
speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 4 He
who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the
church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,
but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who
speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be
edified. 6 Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in
tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or
knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7 Even in the
case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will
anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the
notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call,
who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you
speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are
saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10Undoubtedly there
are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without
meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone
is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. 12 So
it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in
gifts that build up the church. 13 For this reason anyone who
speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14 For
if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So
what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind;
I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16 If
you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among
those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he
does not know what you are saying? 17 You may be giving thanks
well enough, but the other man is not edified. 18 I thank God
that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the
church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten
thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brothers, stop thinking like
children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21 In
the Law it is written: "Through men of strange tongues and through the
lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not
listen to me," says the Lord. 22 Tongues, then, are a
sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for
believers, not for unbelievers. 23 So if the whole church
comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand
or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your
mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not
understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all
that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the
secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God,
exclaiming, "God is really among you!" 26 What then
shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word
of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must
be done for the strengthening of the church. 27 If anyone
speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and
someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the
speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. 29 Two
or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is
said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting
down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all
prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The
spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For
God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the
saints,34 women should remain silent in the churches. They are not
allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35 If
they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at
home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. 36 Did
the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has
reached? 37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually
gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's
command. 38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored. 39 Therefore,
my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But
everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
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