Reading for September 7th

 Read Esther 2.1-11. In 2.1-11: Esther and Mordecai. In verses 2-4: While according to Herodotus the Persian king could only marry from seven noble families, this  account explains how a commoner, a Jewish one at that, could marry into royalty. In verses 5-6: The name Mordecai is similar to that of the Babylonian god Marduk. Shimei, Kish, and Benjaminite provide verbal links to King Saul (1 Sam 9.1; 2 Sam 16.5-8). The Hebrew reads that Mordecai was carried away by the Babylonians, making him over  100 years old. The NRSV suggests, instead, that Kish was carried into exile. In verse 7: Hadassah, the Jewish name, means "myrtle." Esther sounds similar to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. In verses 8-11: Like Joseph (Gen 39.3) and Daniel (Dan 1.9), Esther wins favor in the royal court and is aided by a royal servant. Apparently Jewish identity was not obvious, and there is no mention of Esther's attempts at religious observances like kosher food regulations. Comments or Questions..

Reading for September 6th

Read Esther 1.10-22. In 1.10-22: Vashti refuses. In verse 10: Throughout the book, eunuchs (royal servants often castrated) bridge the gaps between men and women, royals and commoners, insiders and outsiders. In verse 12: The author gives neither the reason for Vashti's refusal nor a judgment on her decision. The king was enraged: Ahasuerus (and later Haman) has a quick temper. In verses 13-19: The importance and permanence of Persian laws are themes of the book. As elsewhere, the king does not make his own decisions but defers to advisers and documents. Memucan the eunuch, not the king, makes the Vashti affair into a forum on women's subordination. In verse 19: While biblical tradition indicates that Persian law could not  be altered (Dan 6.8), such a strategy would have been impractical. In verse 22: In its own language: the Persians generally accepted the ethnic diversity of their kingdom. Comments or Questions.. 

Reading for September 5th

 Read Esther 1.1-9. In 1.1-9: In the royal court. In verse 1: Ahasuerus is usually identified with Xeres (486-465 BCE). "Strapies" is the more usual description of Persian administrative units than provinces. One hundred twenty-seven does not correspond to any reckoning known outside the Bible. In verse 2: Susa, at the foot of the Zagros mountains, was one of three royal residences. It consisted of a citadel, or fortified city (enclosed with gates), and an unfortified lower city. In verse 3: Media was a large province of the Achaemenid Persian empire. In verses 4-8: The extended period of Banqueting, as well as the extensive list of furnishings, paints a picture of a lavish, extravagant gentile (non-Jewish) court. Vashti is not mentioned in Persian literature. Although the Greek historian Herodotus reports that Persian men and women banqueted together, Vashti's separate banquet explains to the reader why she must be summoned, and the heavy drinking of the all-male audience may suggest that danger Vashti faced in appearing before them. Comments or Questions..

Reading for September 4th

Read Romans 16. 17-27. In verses 17-20: Warnings against trouble makers. In verse 18: Their own appetites, literally "their own belly,"are their own desires (Phil 3.19). Smooth talk and flattery: False teachers often have a way with words (Eph 5.6; Col 2.4). In verse 19: Paul's advice echoes Jesus' teaching (Mt 10.16). In verse 20: Paul expect God's final triumph soon (1 Cor 15.24). In verses 21-23: Paul's co-workers send greetings.  In verse 21: Timothy was Paul's long-time co-worker (Acts 16.1; 1 Cor 16.10-11). In verse 22: Tertius was Paul's secretary. In verse 23: Most likely, this is the Gaius of Corinth whom Paul baptized (1 Cor 1.14). In verse 25-27: Benediction. How the letter originally ended is unclear. In verse 25-26: The mystery... kept secret for long ages is God's vision of a universal community composed of both Jews and gentiles who live in obedient faith (Eph 3.1-6). Comments or Questions..

Reading for September 3rd

 Read Romans 16.1-16. In 16.1-23: Concluding personal greetings and exhortations. In verses 1-2: Phoebe commended. In verse 1: Deacon (Gk., "diakonos"), or minister is the same term used of Christ (15.8) and Paul (1 Cor 3.5). Cenchrea was a suburb of Corinth (Acts 18.8). In verses 3-16: Paul sends his greetings. In verses 3-5: Priscilla and Aquilla: Acts 18.2-3; 1 Cor 16.19. In verse 5: Asia: western Asia Minor. In verse 7: The feminine form of Junia is preferred over the masculine form Junias. She is the only woman among the apostles inthe New Testament. My relatives probably means fellow Jews. In verses 8-16: All the names listed are mentioned only here in the New Testament. Another Rufus is mentioned in Mk 15.21. The number of people Paul knows byname in the Roman church is remarkable. In verse 16: The holy kiss possibly originated in early Christian circles (1 Cor 16.20; 2 Cor 13.12). The churches of Christ in Achaia, where Paul was writing, are meant. Comments or Questions..

Reading for September 2nd

 Read Romans 15.14-33. In 15.14-33: Paul's plans and anxieties. In verse 14-29: Paul reflects on his own ministry. In verse 14: Paul affirms his confidence in the Roman church's (1.8; 1 Cor 1.5). In verses 15-16: Grace given me refers to Paul's call to be an apostle to the gentiles (1 Cor 15.10-11). Referring to his ministry as priestly service is unusual. In verse 19: Signs and wonders accompanied Paul's mistry (2 Cor 12.12). Illyricum was a Roman province across the Adriatic Sea from Italy. In verse 21: Isa 52.15. In verse 22: What hindered Paul is not know (1.13). In verse 23: These regions were probably the areas bordering the Aegean Sea. In verse 24: Hospitality would also include financial provision for his mission to Spain (see v. 28; 1 Cor 16.6). In verses 25-26: Ministry to the saints refers to the financial collection Paul had gathered for poor Christians in Jerusalem (1 Cor 16.1-4; 2 Cor 8-9). In verse 27: Paul applies the principle of reciprocity stated in Gal 6.6. In verses 30-33: Paul's anxiety about the collection. In verse 31: Unbelievers in Judea are probably non-Christian Jews (1 Thess 2.15). Acts 21.17-36 relates Paul's arrival in Jerusalem and the controversy it causes among Jews, but omits the collection. Comments or Questions..

Reading for September 1st

 Read Romans 15.1-13. In 15.1-13. In verses 1-6: Helping the weak. In verses 1-2: The previous discussion is summarized well here. In verse 3: Ps 69.9. In verse 4: Whatever was written in former days refers to the previously quoted psalm, but applies to the Old testament Scriptures generally (1 Cor 10.11). In verse 5: The concluding prayer for harmony echoes earlier advice (12.16; Phil 2.2). In verses 7-13: Concluding appeal. In verses 7-8: Christ's example influences Christian behavior (3.26; 2 Cor8.9). In verse 8: Servant of the circumcised indicates Christ's service to the Jews (Gal 4.4-5), whose patriarchs received the promises that gentiles would receive God's blessing (4.13; 9.4). The following Old Testament quotations include gentiles in God's purpose. In verse 9: Ps 18.49; 2 Sam 22.50. In verse 10: Deut 32.43. In verse 11: Ps 117.1. In verse 12: Isa 11.10. In verse 13: Paul prays for the vision of 14.7 to be realized. Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 31st

 Read Romans 14.10-23. In 14.10-23: Learning not to judge each other. In verse 10: To judge others is to assume God's unique role (2 Cor 5.10). In verse 11: Isa 49.18; Jer 22.24; Ezek 5.11; Isa 45.23. In verse 13: This conclusion follows from vv. 11-12; see Mt 18.6-7. In verse 14: In the Lord Jesus may mean fidelity to Jesus' teaching (Mt 15.11; Acts 10.15). In verse 15: Paul echoes the advice he gives in 1 Cor 8.11-15. In verse 17b: These characterize life in the Spirit (Ch 8). In verse 19: Peace and mutual upbuilding 1 Cor 14.12, 26. In verses 20-22: Paul consistently advises placing limits on personal liberty for the sake of others (1 Cor 8.9-13). In verse 22-23: Acting from faith requires clear convictions, free from lingering doubts and feelings of self-condemnation. A right act wrongly felt is wrong. Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 30th

 Read Romans 14.1-9. In 14.1-15.13: Dealing with differences. Here Paul offers instructions about what is required when people from different backgrounds with strongly held opinions try to live together as a community of faith (1 Cor 8-10). In verses 1-6: What to eat and what holidays to observe. In verses 1-2: The weak, those with stricter views about what to eat, may be Jews or gentiles. In verse 2: Those willing to eat anything reflect Paul's more open view about food laws (14.14; 1 Cor 8.8). In verse 3: God's acceptance of weak and strong requires mutual respect from both. In verse 4: Their own lord may be the principle they hold dear, or the way they understand what God requires. In verse 5-6: The day may be the sabbath or other Jewish holidays gentiles did not observe (Gal 4.10; Col 2.16). For  gentiles who did not observe the sabbath, all days were alike. Everyday was a work day. In verse 6; Devotion to God can produce opposite religious practices. In verses 7-9: Living for the Lord not for ourselves. Being the Lord's makes living in isolation impossible. Christ's death and resurrection is a shared reality linking all Christians together, both dead and living (1 Coor 12.27). Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 29th

 Read Romans 13.1-14. In verse 1-7: Duties to governing authorities. Paul's positive view of civil authority is paralleled in 1 Pet 2.13-17. In verses 1-4: In jewish teaching, rulers ultimately derive their authority from God (Wis 6.1-3). In verses 8-10: Love's obligation. In verse 8: Following the decalogue's commands expresses love (Gal 5.14). In verse 9: Deut 5.17; Ex 20.13-17. In verse 9b: Lev 19.18; Mt 22.34-40. In verses 11-14: Being alert. Such advice is usually given when the Lord's coming is expected soon. In verse 11: Time: 1 Cor 7.29; 1 Thess 5.6. In verse 12: In apocalyptic thought darkness and light define types of behavior (1 Thess 5.1-5; Eph 5.8-11). In verses 13-14: Preparation for the end requires moral living. Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 28th

 Read Romans 12.9-21. In verses 9-13: Building community.  These pieces of moral advice sketch a profile of sincere behavior tempered by genuine concern for others, both saints and strangers (1 Thess 4.9-12). In verse 9: Am 5.15. In verse 12: Hope and suffering: 5.1-5. In verses 14-21: Controlling our impulses. This advice echoes Jewish morality and Jesus teaching. In verse 14: Mt 5.44. In verse 15: Sir 7.34. In verse 16: Living in harmony is threatened by haughty attitudes; it ultimately occurs as a gift from God (15.5). In verse 19: Deut 32.35. In verse 20: Prov 25.21-22. In verse 21: Mt 5.39-41. Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 27th

 Read Romans 12.1-8. In 12.1-15.13: Moral exhortation: living by faith. In 12.1-2: renewed minds. In verse 1: Living sacrifice recalls Christ's example (3.25; 8.3). In verse 2: A changed outlook makes for a clear moral vision ( (Col 3.1-4). In verses 3-8: Viewing ourselves properly. In verse 3: This caution against pride recalls earlier warnings (2.17; 3.27; 1 Cor 4.6) In verses 4-7: Now Paul suggests a remedy: An inflated self-image is offset by recognizing mutual need of each other's gifts (1 Cor 12.4-11). Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 26th

 Read Romans 11.25-36. In 11.25-32: How Israel will be saved. In verse 25: Part of Israel implies the obedience of some Jews (11.5). In verse 26: The gentiles' acceptance will prompt the full response of Israel. In verses 26-27: Isa 59.20-21; 27.9; Jer 31.33-34. In verse 28: Enemies: By refusing to submit to God 's righteousness, Israel is at cross purposes with God (10.3-4). In verse 30: Just as gentiles benefited from Israel's bad fortune, now Israel should benefit from gentiles' good fortune. In verse 32: 3.9. In verses 33-26: Concluding prayer: God's wisdom. The mystery of God's workings 911.25) prompts this exuberant prayer acknowledging the depth of God's wisdom (1 Cor 2.7). In verse 34: Isa 40.13. In verse 35:  See Job 41.11, Hebrew text. In verse 36: 1 Cor 8.6; Col 1.16. Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 25th

 Read Romans 11.13-25. In 11.13-32: Paul speaks to gentiles. The previous discussion has been an ongoing conversation with Israel about Israel. In verses 13-16: Effect of Paul's ministry on Israel. In verse 13: Apostle to the Gentiles: Paul so defines himself (1.5; Gal 2.8) In verse 14: Provoking Israel to jealousy fulfills Deut 32.21 (10.19). In verse 15: Israel's rejection can become the occasion for universal reconciliation. Israel's acceptance would show God's creative power (4.17). In verse 16: Both images emphasize the solidarity between Israel and the gentiles. In verses 17-24: Lessons from the olive tree. In verse 17: Gentiles are the wild olive shoot, Israel the root. In verse 18: Jews earlier, now gentiles, are forbidden to boast. (2.17-21). In verse 20: Unbelief is refusal to acknowledge Jesus as messiah. In verse 21: Both Jews and gentiles can experience God wrath (2.9-10). In verse 22: Kindness and severity represent God's two sides (9.22-24). In verse 23: Of Israel is an acceptable expansion, since Israel's unbelief is clearly in view. In verse 24: Paul holds out hope for Israel.  Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 24th

 Read Romans 11.1-12. In verse 1-6: A remnant chosen by grace. In verse 1: The objective of 3.1 is started more emphatically. Paul offers himself as an example of an obedient Israelite (2 Cor 11.22). In verse 2: 1 Sam 12.22. In verse 3 : 1 Kings 19.10, 14. In verse 4: 1 Kings 19.18.. In verse 5: A portion of Israel has experienced God's righteousness as gift (5.15; 11.27). In verses 7-12: Israel's refusal enables gentiles' obedience.  In verse 7: The elect as the faithful remnant of responsive Jewish Christians. In verse 8: Deut 29.4; Isa 29.9-10. In verse 9-10: Ps 69.22-23. In verse 10: Backs forever bent: The blind walk stooped. Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 23rd

 Read Romans 10.14-21. In verses 14-17: Hearing the gospel of Christ. In verses 14-15: Being summoned is ultimately traceable to proclamation. In verse 15: Isa 42.7; Nah 1.15. Proclaimers of God's good news are like messengers announcing battle victories. In verse 16: Isa 53.1. In verse 17: Abraham maybe in view if word of God is read. In verses 18-21: Israel's refusal to hear. The law and the prophets, and writings attest Israel's disobedience. In verse 18: Ps 19.4. In verse 19: Deut 32.21. In verse 20: Isa 65.1. In verse 21: Isa 65.2. Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 22nd

 Read Romans 10.1-13. In verses 1-4: Paul's prayer for Israel. In verses 1-2: Paul speaks of Israel (9.31-33). In verse 3: Righteousness that comes from God: 1.16-17. In verse 4: The end of the law: Christ either abolishes the law or is it goal, probably the latter (3.21-22). In verses 5-13: Righteousness through faith. In verse 5: Lev 18.5. The emphasis here is on living by doing. In verse 6a: Deut 9.4. In verse 6b: Deut 30.12. In verse 7: Ps 107.26; see Deut 30.13. In verse 8: Deut 30.14. Faith does not try to locate Christ  "out there," but rather expresses an inner conviction with the heart and expressed with your lips. In verse 10: What the heart believes, the mouth confesses. In verse 11: Isa 28.16. In verse 12: No distinction: Jews and gentiles are justified the same way (3.30). In verse 13: Joel 2.32. Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 21st

 Read Romans 9.27-33. In verse 27-29: A  remnant will be saved.  In verse 27: Isa 10.22. In verse 28: See Isa 28.22. In verse 29: Isa 1.9. In verses 30-33: Gentiles succeeded where Israel failed. Faith, the capacity to trust God, not performance, is the critical difference (4.5). In verse 33: Isa 28.16; Isa 8.14. Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 20th

 Read Romans 9.14-26. In 9.14-26: God's freedom to choose. In verse 14: Paul anticipates criticism of his logic (3.3-5). In verse 15: Ex 33.19. In verse 16: God does not require human will or exertion to show mercy. In verse 17: Ex 9.16. In verse 19: Paul's imaginary dialogue partner responds. In verses 20-21: The image of the potter and clay (drawn from Isa 29.16; 45.9) emphasizes God's sovereign power. In verses 22-23: God can show wrath or mercy. In verses 25-26: From both Jews and Gentiles God can form a newly beloved people. In verse 25: Hos 2.25. In verse 26: Hos 1.10. Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 19th

 Read Romans 9.1-13. In 9.1-11.36: God's purpose for Israel. In 9.1-5: Blessings belonging to Israel. In verse 5: Here the NRSV retains the ambiguity of the Greek. Ordinarily, Paul uses such language of God rather than Christ (1.25; 2 Cor 11.31). In verses 6-13: Abraham true descendants. In verses 6-7: The earlier distinction (2.28-29) between physical and spiritual pedigree is now stated differently. In verse 7: Gen 21.12. In verse 8: Children of the promise are gentiles and Jews who, like Abraham live by faith (4.16). In verse 9: Gen 18.10. In verse 12: Gen 25.23. Like Abraham, Rebecca lived by faith. In verse 13: Mal 1.2-3. Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 18th

 Read Romans 8.26- 39. In verses 26-27: The Spirit as intercessor. In verse 26: Our weakness is being unable to say what we need. Intercedes: the Spirit pleads our case before God ( Heb 7.25): Here God knows the Spirit as thoroughly as the human heart (Ps 139.1-6). Praying "in the Spirit" recognizes the Spirit's mediating role (Eph 6.18; Jude 20). In verses 28-30: Being part of God's larger purpose. In verse 28: The alternative readings yield significant differences. The most believable of the three is: In all things God works for good. In verses 29-30: The people of God rather than individuals are in view. In verses 31-39: More than conquerors. Central tit his triumphant finale is what God did in Christ (vv. 32, 34, 37, 39), apply summarized in the final line: The love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. In verse 32: Christ as God's sacrifice is in view (8.3). Everything else includes protective care from suffering (v. 35) and cosmic threats, present and future (vv. 37-39). In verse 33: God's elect are God's people (8.28-30). In verse 36 : Ps 44.22. Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 17th

 Read Romans 8.12-25. In verses 12-17: Living as God's children. In verses 12-13: Living according to the flesh leads to various forms of self-gratification, deeds of the body. In verse 14: This is especially true of Christ (8.3; Lk 4.1-13). In verses 15-17: The ability to cry "Abba! Father!" derives from the spirit of adoption. The Spirit's co-testimony does not result from prayer, as it does in the NRSV text. The prayer preserves the Aramaic language of Jesus ((Mk 14.36; Gal 4.6). In verse 18-25: Present suffering and future glory. In verse 18: Sufferings and  glory develop 8.17. Believers share both experiences with Christ. In verses 19-25: The creation is the whole created order. In verse 20: Subjected to futility: The creation story is in view as a woman in labor, giving birth to new life (Gal 4.19). In verse 23: First fruits of the Spirit: In the Older Testament, what was harvested first were the "first fruits," an indication of more to come (Ex 23.26). Similarly, the Spirit is understood here as a foretaste of the future glory. In verse 24: 2 Cor 4.18. Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 16th

 Read Romans 8.1-11. In verses 1-8: Life inthe Spirit. In verse 1: No condemnation: Those in Christ no longer feel doomed (Jn 5.24). In verse 2: God life-giving Spirit unleashed in Christ becomes a liberating law, replacing the Mosaic law that sin uses to produce death (7.5, 11). In verses 3-4: By sending Christ as a sin offering, God met the requirement of the law (Lev 4-5). Recognizing what the law ... could not do, however, God  dealt with humans in (sin in the flesh) with a human sacrifice (in the likeness of sinful flesh) with a human sacrifice (in the likeness or sinful flesh). In verses 5-8: Flesh and Spirit represents opposing outlooks, with different lifestyles and consequences: death versus life and peace (Gal 5.16-26). In verses 9-11: God, Christ, Spirit. Paul now uses the plural form of you (8.2). His main focus maybe group rather than individual identity. In verse 9: Having the Spirit of Christ becomes the distinguishing mark of Christian identity. In verse 10: If Christ is in you: Christ's pattern of "dying and rising" becomes part of us (Gal 2.19-20). Our body may be mortal because of Adam's sin, yet our spirit lives because of God's righteousness shown through Christ (5.18). In verse 11: God's Spirit living with in us links our experience of the risen Christ with our hope of resurrection life. Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 15th

 Read Romans 7.14-25. In verses 14-20: The struggle to do good. I am of the flesh: Paul may be speaking of his own morals struggle or using "I" to express everyone's experience. Sin that dwells within me (vv. 17, 20) suggests an alien presence wreaking havoc in an unwilling host. In verses 21-25: The war within us. In verse 21: A law here means "a rule." In verse 22:The law of God maybe the Mosaic law (vv. 14, 16). In verse 23: Elsewhere the opposition is between the flesh and Spirit (Gal 5.17). In verse 25: As before, sin and God are enemies (6.22). Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 14th

 Read Romans 7.1-13. In verses 1-3: Marriage and the law. Whether the Jewish law (Ex 20.14; Duet 5.18) or Roman law is in view is not clear. The same principle holds for both: Laws governing marriage presuppose two living partners. The death of one partner (here, the husband) invalidates the law, leaving the other partner (the wife) free to marry. In verses 4-6: Christ's death and the law. The law of Moses is the first husband, the risen Christ the second husband. Paul's readers are the wife now discharged from the obligations of the old written code. Newly married to Christ, they belong to another and enjoy the new life of the Spirit. Generally, the analogy makes sense, but seems forced. V. 4 is difficult. In verses 7-13: The value of the law. In verse 7: V. 5 seems tos upport this objection. Bynaming the sin, the law raises the sinner's consciousness.To covet is to want something that belongs to someone else (Ex 20.17; Deut 5.21). In verses 8-11: Sin takes on personal qualities, having power to seize and manipulate people and laws. Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 13th

 Read Romans 6.15-23. In verses 15-19: Choosing whom to obey. In verse 15: For Paul's critics, exchanging law for grace encourages sin (3.8). In verses 16-19: The widespread practice of slavery in antiquity informs Paul's discussion: Living as slaves meant obedient submission (Eph 6.5-9; Col 3.22-4.1). In verses 20-23: Thinking long term. In verse 20: To be free is to be without obligation to righteousness. In verse 21: Sin can cause physical death and ultimate separation from God (8.6, 13). In verse 22: With change loyalties comes a purer life, sanctification ( 1 Thess 4.3), and eventually eternal life with God (5.21). Comments or Questions.

Reading for August 12th

 Read Romans 6.5- 14. In verses 5-11: Dying and living with Christ. In verses 5-8: With him: Believers "enter" Christ's experience as co-participants (Gal 2.19-20). In verse 10: He died to sin: In dying, Christ yielded to sin's power to kill. Christ's death occurred once; his new life with God is ongoing: He lives to God. In verse 11: Sin and God represent opposing realities and Loyalties. In verses 12-14: Shifting loyalties. Sin may be an impersonal force, but it seriously competes with God for dominion over mortal bodies. In verse 13: Those ... brought from death to life have re-lived Christ's experience (v. 8). In verse 14: Christ's death also represents a shift from law to grace (Jn 1.17). Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 11th

 Read Romans 6.1-4.In 6.1-4: Dying to sin. In verse 1: Paul now answers his critics more fully (3.8). In verse 2-4: Through baptism, believers ritually reenact Jesus' death and resurrection, experiencing the radical shift from death to life as moral renewal: Death to sin and newness of life (Col 2.11-12). Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 10th

 Read Romans 5.12-21. In verses 12-14: Sin, death, and law. Tracing sin and death to one man, Adam, is based on Gen 3. Universal sin brings universal death (Rom 3.9). In verses 13-14: Adam's sin preceded the Mosaic law chronologically, but law makes sin and it consequences specific, thus easier to deal with. Adam is seen as a type (a figure with important similarities of Christ), the one who was to come (1 Cor 15.45-47). In verses 15-17: Adam and Christ. Free gift translates different Greek words ("Charisma," vv. 15a, 16b; "dorea," vv. 15b, 17; "dorema," v. 16), but they all refer to God's free gift of Christ, which is contrasted with one man's (Adam's) trespass. Both events are alike because they show how one person can affect many people. But they have very different effects. Adam's trespass brought condemnation (v. 16) and death (v.17), whereas God's free gift of Christ brought justification (v. 16) and life (v. 17). In verses 18-21: Law and grace. In verses 18-19: These verses summarize and extend the contrast of the previous section. In verses 20-21: The Mosaic law came in and made sin and its consequences clear (4.15). Trespasses multiplied because awareness of sin increased. yet, the lethal effects of sin were exceeded by God's grace shown through Jesus Christ our Lord. This event revealed God's righteousness by providing God reliable and making real the prospect of eternal life (6.23). Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 9th

 Read Romans 5.1-11. In verses 1-5: Peace with God through Christ. In verse 1: Gal 2.16. Peace results where justice and righteousness prevail (Isa 32.16-18). In verse 2: To experience salvation as gift not reward, is to stand in God's grace (1 Pet 5.12; Rom 4.4-5). In verses 2-3: Boast is used positively here, meaning "take pride in " (Rom 3.27; 1 Cor 1.29). In verses 3-4: Suffering is properly understood within the larger perspective of resurrection hope (Ps 22.3-5). The Holy Spirit given to believers is the tangible expression of God's love (Titus 3.6). In  verses 6-11: Christ died for sinners. In verse 6: The ungodly live against God (Rom 4.5). In verse 7: It is hard enough to die for a generous, good-hearted person.  In verse 8: Christ's death for sinners who are neither good nor righteous shows God's unusual love (Jn 3.16; 1 Jn 4.10). In verse 9: His blood: Jesus' death is understood as atoning sacrifice (Rom 3.25). In verses 10-11: Those yielding to the power of sin become enemies of God (Rom 3.9-18). Christ's death reconciles sinful humanity with God (2 Cor 5.18-19; Col 1.21-22); through his resurrection life, believers experience similar hope of being saved. In verse 11: God now becomes the proper object of pride (1 Cor 1.31). Comments or Questions..

Reading for August 8th

 Read Romans 4.16-25. In 4.16-25: Abraham's ability to trust. In verse 16: The promise of God's blessings is given in grace and received in faith to all his descendants, both Jews (adherents of the law) and gentiles (those who share the faith of Abraham). In verses 17-19: God's creative power is shown by giving life to Abraham's "dead" body and Sarah's barren womb. In verse 17: Gen 17.5. In verse 18: Gen 15.5. In verse 19: Hundred years old, Gen 17.17. In verses 20-21: Unwavering trust characterizes the faith of Abraham (v. 16). In verse 22: Gen 15.6. In verses 24-25: To believe that God raised Jesus ... from the dead requires faith like Abraham and Sarah. For them, receiving God's righteousness meant experiencing God as utterly reliable, as someone whose promises come true. God can be similarly experienced by those who believe that God gave life to the crucified Jesus. The language handed over and raise suggests a two-part confession. Comments or Questions..