Reading for December 10th

 Read 2 Corinthians 9.1-15. In verses 1-5: Paul explains the purpose of the delegation. In verse 1: Ministry to the saints is another name for the collection (8.4, 20). In verse 2: Last year: 8.10. In verse 3: The brothers are those mentioned in 8.18, 22. In verse 5: Voluntary gift: It should be like Christ's gift. In verses 6-15: Reasons to give. In verse 6: The proverb expresses general experience (Job 4.8; Prov 11.24-25). In verse 7: The gift should be deliberate and voluntary (Philem 14). God loves a cheerful giver: This quotation is based upon the Septuagint version (the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) of Prov 22.8a (see Sir 35.9). In verse 8: God's generosity toward human beings is a recurrent biblical theme (Deut 30.9-10; Lk 1.53). For Paul, it especially enables human generosity. In verse 9: Ps 112.9. In verse 10: Based on Isa 55.10. In verses 11-12: The more blessings, the more prayers of thanksgiving offered. In verse 13: Willingness to give is seen as an expression (and test) of one's faith. In verses 14-15: God's graciousness is the ultimate reason to give. Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 9th

 Read 2 Corinthians 8.16-24. In 8.16-24: Plans for collecting and delivering the funds.  As Paul's partner and co-worker (v. 23), Titus played a key role in getting the collection started in Corinth (v. 6). In verses 18-19: The identity of this famous preacher is unknown. Because of his eloquence and close association with Corinth, Apollos is a possibility (Acts 18.24-19.1; 1 Cor 1-4). In verses 20-21: Whether the blame related to how the money was being collected and handled in transit, or how it was to be used, is not clear. As with many projects involving money, it was controversial (Rom 15.30-33). In verse 22: Our brother is possibly Timothy (see comment in 1.1). In verse 23: Messengers translates "apostoloi," literally "ones sent" for a particular purpose (Rom 16.7). In verse 24: The other churches in Macedonia and Achaia are in view. Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 8th

 Read 2 Corinthians 8.1-15. In 8.1-9.15: The collection. In 8.1-7: Macedonian generosity. In verse 1: Churches of Macedonia probably means Philippi, Thessalonica, and Beroea (Acts 16-17). In verse 2: Severe ordeal: The founding of these churches had met stiff resistance (1 Thess 1.6; 3.1-5; Phil 1.29-30). In verses 5-6: Privilege translates: "charis," used several times in chs. 8-9, for collection itself (vv. 6-7 and v. 19). Since it designates both God's generosity (8.1; 9.14) and Christ's generous act (8.9), it properly describes the collection as a concrete expression of good will toward others. In verse 7: Earlier Paul commended their possession of these gifts (1 Cor 1.5-7). In verses 8-15: Christ's generosity. Genuineness of your love maybe their love for Christ (5.14; Rom 12.9). In verse 9: Christ is similarly portrayed in the early Christian hymn in Phil 2.5-11, where he also serves as an example for Christian behavior. In verses 10-11: Paul had given instructions about the collection in 1 Cor 16.1-4. In verses 12-14: The principle of fair balance can be expressed another way: Since the Jews have bestowed a spiritual blessing on gentiles, they are entitled to receive a physical blessing (financial support) from gentiles (Rom 15.27). In verse 15: Ex 16.18. Comments or Questions.. 

Reading for December 7th

 Read 2 Cor 7.2-16. In 7.2-16: Paul rejoices over the church's repentance. In verse 2: These charges explain his defense in 2.17 and 4.2. In verse 3: I said before: When is not certain; possibly 4.12. In verse 5: This resumes the discussion in 2.12-13. In verses 6-7: The consolation Paul received from Titus' good report about Corinth is expressed in the opening prayer (1.3-7). In verse 8: This the "tearful letter" mentioned earlier (2.3-4, 9), probably chs. 10-13. In verses 9-13: Godly grief, literally "grief according to God," results in God's reconciling love (5.18-21). Either the congregations repentance is in view-they finally sided with Paul (v. 12)--or the individual who did the wrong admitted it (2.7). This is one of the few times repentance occurs in Paul's letters (12.21; Rom 2.4). In verses 13b-16: These remarks confirm Titus' pivotal role in the crisis. Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 6th

 Read 2 Corinthians 6.14-7.1. In 6.14-7.1: Separating from evil. This section interrupts the train of thought (compare 7.2 and 6.13). Most likely it was a separate letter composed on another occasion. Some scholars this is the "previous letter" of 1 Cor 5.9. In verse 14: Good and evil are seen as absolute opposites in separatist communities like Qumran and parts of early Christianity (1 Thess 5.4-5; Jn 3.19-21), but moral choices are often presented as clearly opposed options (Deut 30.15; Mt 7.13-14). In verse 15: Beliar, also Belial occurs often in non-biblical literature, especially that from Qumran, to describe the leader of the forces of darkness, Satan. It only occurs here in the New Testament. In verse 16: Idols and Temple are incompatible (1 Cor 10.20-22). Combines Lev 26.11-12 and Ezek 37.27. In verse 17: Combines Isa 52.11 and Ezek 20.34. In verse 18: Paraphrases 2 Sam 7.14, drawing on Isa 43.6 (see Jer 31.9). Lord Almighty reflects 2 sam 7.8 (see Am 3.13). In 7.1: 1 Thess 4.1-6. Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 5th

 Read 2 Corinthians 6.1-13. In 6.1-13: Working together with God. In verse 1: 1 Cor 3.9 confirms with him as a correct rendering of the Greek. In verse 2: Isa 49.8. In verse 3: This echoes the defensive tone of chs. 10-13. In verse 4: Servants of God: ("theou diakonoi") should be rendered "ministers of God" for consistency. In verses 4-10: Paul's lists of commendations includes hardships (vv. 4b-5) and virtuous behavior (vv. 6-7) lived out among life's contradictions and puzzles (vv. 8-10). Many elements of this self-portrait are confirmed in Acts 13-28, as well as Paul's other descriptions of his ministry (1 Thess 2). The paradoxes of vv. 8-10 specify the ways he has embodied the dying and rising of Christ (4.10-12). In verses 11-12: This final appeal indicates experienced (11.1-6). It continues in 7.2-4. Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 4th

 Read 2 Corinthians 5.11-21. In 5.11-21: The ministry of reconciliation. In verse 11: Well known: Nothing is hidden in ministry as defined in 4.2. In verses 12-13: The tone is defensive. Commending himself and being beside himself echo his opponents' criticisms (4.5; 10.12; 11.16). In verses 14-15: Love of  Christ: Christ's love is meant (Rom 8.35; Gal 2.20), though love for Christ results. Died for all: Christ's death is a sacrifice with universal benefit (Rom 18-19). All have died: We might expect,"All can live." But v. 15 explains No longer to live for oneself is death to the self (Gal2.20). In verse 16: Human point of view: What it means to see Christ this way is disputed: knowing merely the historical facts about Jesus?trying to understand Christ without seeing God's bigger story? failing to see Christ as the funnel of God's spirit? In verse 17: Christ is the sphere of God's new creation (4.5-6); to enter Christ is to experience old becoming new. In verses 18-20: God as the prime mover continues an earlier theme (2.14; 4.1; 5.5). Reconciliation makes enemies friends (Rom 5.10). Ministry of reconciliation continues God's work (6.1). In verse 21: Rom 8.3 Gal 3.13. Comments or Questions..