The New Oxford Annotated Bible – Augmented, Third Ed. (NRSV)

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New Oxford Annotated BibleFuel for the scoffers

I purchased this second-hand Bible (copyright 2007) online to have an inexpensive copy of this translation for my current Bible reading plan. I was impressed with all the extras that were included in this edition, so was eager for it to arrive in the mail.

The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible is good.  I have been diligently reading and highlighting it daily now for almost ten months. I’ve been using it for the two-year Bible reading plan on this blog. I’ve used other translations for comparison purposes and am encouraged that the translation is in agreement.

But I can’t voice the same approval over the commentaries. Continue reading →

1 Timothy

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1 Timothy 6_20-21 (400)Those following the two-year Bible reading plan with me will begin reading the book of 1 Timothy tomorrow, October 23 (Link to the Two-Year Bible Reading Plan)

First Timothy is the first of two letters Paul wrote to Timothy. In this letter Paul gives him solid instructions on how to lead the congregation of the church he served in Ephesus. Bible scholars believe this is one of Paul’s last letters, written later than the last chapters in Acts. Paul encouraged Timothy charging him to oppose false teachers.

Paul wrote instructions for orderly and holy worship. He also wrote about the qualifications for the overseers and deacons based on how they lived their Christian faith within their families and dealings with people.

Paul addressed some of the false teachings that opposed and undermined the Christian faith. He also provided directives for working with widows, elders, and with slaves.

2 Thessalonians

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2 Thes 3_6&10Those following the two-year Bible reading plan with me will begin reading the book of 2 Thessalonians tomorrow, October 20 (Link to the Two-Year Bible Reading Plan)

A little background for the church in Thessalonica can be found in Acts 16:1-17:15.

Paul’s second letter to the church in Thesselonica encourages the believers as their persecutors continue to oppose them. Paul gives them insights to counter false teaching that Christ had already returned. Paul also warns the Thesselonians against idleness.

2 Kings

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010-elijah-chariot

Those following the two-year Bible reading plan with me will begin reading the book of 2 Kings tomorrow, October 20. (Link to the Two-Year Bible Reading Plan)

Second Kings is a continuation of 1 Kings. It tells of the ups and downs of both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah as the people continued their cycle of turning away from God to worship idols and false gods, facing the consequences of their sins, repenting and begging God to rescue them again from their enemies – followed by short-lived periods of prosperity and peace until they turned away from God again. The prophets Elijah and Elisha play prominent roles during these times. The book of 2 Kings ends with the fall of Jerusalem and all Israelites (Northern and Southern Kingdoms) taken into captivity in Babylon.

Image credit: https://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/elijah-chariot/

1 Thessalonians

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1 Thes 4 16-17 (400)Those following the two-year Bible reading plan with me will begin reading the book of 1 Thessalonians tomorrow, October 15 (Link to the Two-Year Bible Reading Plan)

A little background for the church in Thessalonica can be found in Acts 16:1-17:15.

Paul wrote this letter to the Thessalonians to praise the new converts for standing strong against the persecution they faced so quickly after they became believers. He encouraged them in their trials. This letter also addresses the future return of Christ.