Archive for April 2023

Ruth 4, Psalm 94, Mark 9:14-32, 1 Corinthians 16 1 Corinthians 16: In this closing chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul gives six pieces of practical spiritual counsel. First, Giving. In terms of our giving to the church, it is wise for us to prepare to give and to do so in a weekly manner on the first day of…

Ruth 2-3, Psalm 93, Mark 9:1-13, 1 Corinthians 15:29-58 1 Corinthians 15:29-58: Paul continues to show that the resurrection is an essential part of the Christian faith—and has deep implications for how we live today as well as our hope for life after death. He makes four points: 1) the lifestyle of the apostles is inexplicable without the…

Ruth 1, Psalm 92, Mark 8:31-38, 1 Corinthians 15:1-28 1 Corinthians 15:1-28: In this passage, Paul first reminds the Corinthians of the essentials of his gospel. And then he emphasizes that the physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is an essential part of that gospel. First, the gospel that he preached, he reminds them, is…

Judges 20-21, Psalm 91, Mark 8:22-30, 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 1 Corinthians 14:26-40: Paul is continuing to give instructions to the Corinthians regarding their worship. It is important to bear in mind the wider context to this teaching. That is, the Corinthian church was in considerable disorder—including flagrant gross sin, rebellion against apostolic authority, human jealousy and divisiveness that…

Judges 19, Psalm 90, Mark 8:14-21, 1 Corinthians 14:1-25 1 Corinthians 14:1-25: There is much in these verses that has been controversial for some from time-to-time, but its inner meaning and basic thrust are not so controversial once they are understood clearly, and can be edifying and indeed motivating to all. Paul’s basic point is that, having had…

Judges 17-18, Psalm 89:19-52, Mark 8:1-13, 1 Corinthians 13   1 Corinthians 13: This is one of my very favorite chapters in the whole Bible—and it seems I am not alone in that judgment for the frequent use of this chapter in weddings and blazoned on posters, T-shirts, and Instagram postings. But what does it mean? To really…

Judges 16, Psalm 89:1-18, Mark 7:24-37, 1 Corinthians 12:14-31 1 Corinthians 12:12-31: I’m picking up the breakdown of this chapter at verse 12—diverting from the chapter and section suggestions of the framework we’ve been following! In the first part of the chapter, Paul established how to determine genuine from false spirituality, and then exalted the beauty of the…

Judges 13-15, Psalm 88, Mark 7:1-23, 1 Corinthians 12:1-13 1 Corinthians 12:1-11: I’m going to divert from the suggested breaking of the passage in today’s Bible reading and comment on verses 1 to 11 (and then tomorrow verses 12 to the end of the chapter)! In the first three verses of this chapter, Paul wants to give them…

Judges 10-12, Psalm 87, Mark 6:45-56, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 1 Corinthians 11:17-34: This passage contains the very well-known description of the communion service that is often used to introduce the Lord’s Supper in churches still today all around the world. But there is plainly a wider context to this passage of which most of us are less familiar,…

Judges 9, Psalm 86, Mark 6:30-44, 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 1 Corinthians 11:1-16: The first verse of this chapter more properly refers back to what Paul has been saying in the previous chapter. Remember that, as useful as the chapter divisions in our Bible sometimes are, they are not divine writ and were inserted later only as one possible…