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..