I just finished the day 11 selections. I must say that reading 1 & 2 Corinthians was very moving to me. You see in these books the upside and the downside of being in a leadership position in the church. Paul obviously loved these people and wants nothing but the best for them but he’s having to work through some issues with them. He constantly is saying that he wants to use his authority to build them up and encourage them but he’s concerned that he might have to play the heavy when he arrives if they don’t straighten up. Powerful stuff.
This verse in particular broke my heart.
I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me. – 2 Corinthians 12:15 (NLT)
You know, people always say that want to have a real New Testament style church but the truth is that these churches struggled with issues just like churches do today. There’s no magical, perfect church out there. Thankfully, God still works in and through imperfect churches just like He did back then.
What did you think about 1 & 2 Corinthians?
I thought Paul seemed very conflicted in 1 Corinthians regarding sex and marriage. In one breath he spoke about each man should have his own wife and vice versa (7:2) and then shortly after he says he wishes that everyone was single like him (7:7). He spoke of the “gift of marriage” and the “gift of singleness” and then went on to say that if you couldn’t “control” yourself then it’s better to go ahead and marry.
Maybe it’s just me, but from the tone I read it seemed like his remaining unmarried was a sacrifice he was making to God but that he really didn’t like it. ? ? ? ?
I think it was in 2 Corinthians that Paul spoke of the various hardships that he had to endure. Perhaps being single was one too?
I’m also very confused about why the Bible is broken up into various books but many of them are the writings of Paul. Was that based on where he was at the time? Of course, since this is the first time I’ve read through the entire new testament instead of just in small chunks (in progess of course), I’m still trying to figure things out. Guess I need a little more background information.
I can see why someone would have to go to school for a very long time to make sense of all this. I can also only imagine the differences between all the translations of the Bible. Even just reading one translation is complicated (to me).
I thought Paul seemed very conflicted in 1 Corinthians regarding sex and marriage. In one breath he spoke about each man should have his own wife and vice versa (7:2) and then shortly after he says he wishes that everyone was single like him (7:7). He spoke of the “gift of marriage” and the “gift of singleness” and then went on to say that if you couldn’t “control” yourself then it’s better to go ahead and marry.
Maybe it’s just me, but from the tone I read it seemed like his remaining unmarried was a sacrifice he was making to God but that he really didn’t like it. ? ? ? ?
I think it was in 2 Corinthians that Paul spoke of the various hardships that he had to endure. Perhaps being single was one too?
I’m also very confused about why the Bible is broken up into various books but many of them are the writings of Paul. Was that based on where he was at the time? Of course, since this is the first time I’ve read through the entire new testament instead of just in small chunks (in progess of course), I’m still trying to figure things out. Guess I need a little more background information.
I can see why someone would have to go to school for a very long time to make sense of all this. I can also only imagine the differences between all the translations of the Bible. Even just reading one translation is complicated (to me).
I’m all caught up!!! Let’s see if I can stay on track this week.
Way to go, Christa! Keep going. Don’t let anything stop you.
I’m all caught up!!! Let’s see if I can stay on track this week.
Way to go, Christa! Keep going. Don’t let anything stop you.