Readings: December 26-January 1

We’ll gather for our monthly encouragement and sharing on Wednesday, January 5 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Join through this link or Meeting ID: 886 7583 8454, Passcode: westbury

Merry Christmas! And this is it - the last week of reading. An odd juxtaposition to be reading Revelation during the twelve days of Christmas.

But before Revelation, we get 2 & 3 John along with Jude. All are concerned with the early Christian community and how to protect it from false teaching. Notice the names, which are very Greco-Roman, indicating that the faith has established itself beyond the Jewish community. We also see church division forming - pitting Gaius against Diotrephes. Reading these texts should make us consider what hard boundaries would we draw today.

Moving into Revelation, we encounter one of the harder if not hardest texts to read. Interpretations over time have been dominated by an approach that attempts to read the text for a blueprint that lays out future events. Prophecy is equivalent to prediction, and if the approach fails (such as doomsday Y2K forecasts), we just reboot and try again.

But Revelation is grounded in the apocalyptic tradition of Daniel, Ezekiel, and Zechariah. The frustration emerges when we try to assign particular events or future events to symbols. We long for understanding and clarity when the literature itself intends to be abstract and mystifying.

Attend to the broad themes - notice that the book opens with seven letters to seven contemporary churches. What are the struggles for these early churches, and how might the fantastic imagery that follows address their needs & concerns?

Above all - be blessed by reading this strange book at the end of the Bible. That’s the promise in Revelation 1:3

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Readings: December 19-25

The last chapters of Hebrews bring us to the Hall of Faith in c11. We also get a definition of faith: “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” The writer of Hebrews turns our attention to where we may find encouragement and inspiration for our lives in Christ.

The practical side of our faith takes prominence in the letter of James. Often considered the New Testament version fo Proverbs, James focuses on how our faith takes shape in the form of works. For this reason, Martin Luther wanted to discard this book from the Bible since it jeopardized his understanding of faith and works.

The first letter of Peter is an exhortation for Christians to discover their identity in Christ. We have some of the more lasting metaphors for the people of Christ: resident aliens, a household, etc. Imagine the challenge of choosing a new faith and the consequences for community and life. The tone of 2 Peter is very different: much more combative and defensive against a threat to the church.

Finally, we read the first letter of John - another epistle of encouragement. Here though, the people seem to have lost a sense of purpose, of how their faith in Jesus changes them. John has a word grounded in love for how Jesus breaks the power of sin and spurs us toward new life.

Day 1: Hebrews 9-11

Day 2: Hebrews 12-13

Day 3: James 1-5

Day 4: 1 Peter 1-5

Day 5: 2 Peter 1-3

Day 6: 1 John 1-5

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Readings: December 12-18

We have a lot of reading this week as we finish the Pauline corpus. Among our readings are what many consider to be Paul’s earliest letter, 1 Thessalonians. Much of this conclusion is based on Paul’s anticipation of Jesus’ imminent return in 4:13-17. Reading these verses, you’ll also recognize popular elements of the rapture.

We’ll also read disputed letters, particularly the “pastoral letters” of 1 & Timothy and Titus. Regardless of authorship, all these letters have blessed and guided the church for millenia. They help us see how the early church understood and framed leadership qualities and structures. The final letter to Philemon continues to reverberate today for what Paul does and does not say about slavery.

As we enter Hebrews, we hear a complementary but distinct theology from Paul. To the author of Hebrews, it matters that Jesus is both King and High Priest. In particular, the author draws out an obscure name from the Old Testament, Melchizedek. He gets the briefest mention in Genesis when he receives a tithe from Abraham, then again in Psalm 110. But this priest of the Most High God (not explicitly YHWH) provides a basis for Jesus’ priesthood - clean & separate from the failures of the Levite line. We’re reading much too fast through these letters of the New Testament, but hopefully you can catch themes and ideas for how beliefs and theology around Jesus began to form in the first century.

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Readings: November 21-27

Saint Paul, Byzantine ivory relief, 6th – early 7th century

After an opening argument about our common fallenness (All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory - Rom 3:23), Paul’s argument begins to move toward our hope in Jesus. The argument can be convoluted and confusing; these words have captivated theologians for millenia. Romans, specifically, shaped both Martin Luther and John Wesley through Martin Luther’s commentary on Romans. In the 20th century, Karl Barth’s commentary on Romans was pivotal in challenging both liberal and conservative theology.

All this to say, we’re reading fast - so don’t get bogged down. As best as you can, imagine hearing this letter read aloud. Then imagine how the climax of the argument in c8 lands: nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The flow of Romans takes a side road from c9-11 because Paul must address the situation of the Jews. Consider all that the Jewish people endured through the Old Testament: what then is their fate in Jesus? Then, chapter 12 begins to bring the threads together as Paul describes how our lives are transformed by the work of Christ.

When we move to 1 Corinthians, we read a very different letter. Yes, there is theology - but you can hear the concerns of the local church. Paul is trying his best to manage various crises from afar. We hear quite a bit of passion and love in Paul’s words, but we also get a chance to see how Paul is creating norms for the church in new situations.

Day One: Romans 4-8

Day Two: Romans 9-11

Day Three: Romans 12-14

Day Four: Romans 15-16

Day Five: 1 Corinthians 1-3

Day Six: 1 Corinthians 4-7

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