Showing posts with label Reading through the Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reading through the Bible. Show all posts

Sunday

Reading Through The Bible - MICAH







Some Books of the bible are very short and some are very long and this one is another quite small book and it only takes 18 mins to read it according to Crossway and their lovely barchart









MICAH  -  OLD TESTAMENT  -  PROPHECY

33rd book of the OT 
33rd book of the Bible




How Does it Start?

It starts right away in the first verse with the declaration that this is the Word of the Lord.  

It then sets the time frame by naming the ruling kings of the period and specifies Micah as the prophet this Word is given through.
 
"The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem."





What is it?

The Book of MICAH is one of the MINOR PROPHETS in the Old Testament which means it is a book of Prophecy.




How Long is it?

It has 7 chapters.

No other single book of the bible has 7 chapters but if you combine the 3 letters of John you would have a section with 7 chapters.




When was it Written?

It was written between 735 & 710 BC




Who Wrote it?


The prophet Micah who came from Moresheth also known as Moresheth-Gath which was a town of the tribe of Judah in ancient Israel.

 


Who was it Written to?

It was written to the people of Samaria & Israel as stated in verse 1
 
"The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem."


 

Why was it Written? 

It was written to express to the Israelites how they were not living righteously and to remind them that God had told them the right way to live with respect to God and others.

But it was also to tell them of the great blessing Bethlehem would be in the future as the birthplace of the Messiah in chapter 5 v 2

"“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”"




The Overview Bible  tells us the following

"Micah confronts the leaders of Israel and Judah regarding their injustice, and prophecies that one day the Lord himself will rule in perfect justice."  


Teach Sunday School  tells us the following

"Micah prophesied during the tragic and historic years surrounding the Assyrian invasion of the Northern Kingdom.  Micah predicted the event in Micah 1 v 6 and it came to pass between 10 and 15 years later in 722 BC"  


"Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of ruins in the field,
Places for planting a vineyard;
I will pour down her stones into the valley,
And I will uncover her foundations."






What is it normally well-known for?

This book is about justice and injustice and personally I feel that wonderful verse in chapter 6 sums it all up as to how a Christian should live.

  • Act Justly to others
  • Be Merciful to others
  • Walk Humbly with God




However God also states throughout this book that He will

  • Rule Justly 
  • Show Mercy
  • Lead the people in His ways





How does it end?


With Israel's confession of sin 
and 
the forgiveness of God
in chapter 7 v 18-19.

"Who is a God like You,
Pardoning iniquity
And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?
He does not retain His anger forever,
Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities."

which finishes with those reassuring words 

"You will cast all our sins
Into the depths of the sea."



 

The Overview Bible  gives us this


Quick outline of Micah

  1. Israel’s injustice (Mic 1–3)
  2. The Lord’s promise to rule Israel with justice (Mic 4–5)
  3. The Lord’s expectations and judgment (Mic 6)
  4. The Lord’s compassion and everlasting love (Mic 7)









OTHER BOOKS OF THE BIBLE ARE ADDED REGULARLY AND AN UPDATED LIST CAN BE FOUND AT OUR READING THE BIBLE PAGE 










Reading through The Bible - 3 JOHN








Some Books of the bible are very short and some are very long but this one is the 
  • shortest of them all by no. of words
  • joint shortest of them all by no. of chapters (5 books all have only 1)
  • second shortest of them all by no. of verses
you can find these comparisons in  The 10 Shortest Books


In fact it only takes 2 mins to read it according to Crossway and their lovely barchart









3rd JOHN  -  NEW TESTAMENT  -  EPISTLE

25th book of the NT 
64th book of the Bible



It starts with the reassurance that John prays for the elder Gaius
  in 3 John v 2 we read

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."






What is it?

The Book of 3 JOHN is one of the EPISTLES in the New Testament which means it is a Letter.




How Long is it?

It only has 1 chapter.



When was it Written?

It was written between 95 & 90 AD



Who Wrote it?

John the beloved disciple of Jesus

The name of the letter tells us the writer.
Other letters in the bible are named to show who the recipients of the letters were specifically intended to be but these were letters written by John son of Zebedee and brother of James.
One of the three disciples who Jesus often took with him apart from the others. 



Who was it Written to?

It was written to Gaius as stated in verse 1
 
"To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth:"





What is it normally well-known for?

That John was happy the believers were walking in the Truth as seen in the fourth verse 






but also about concern about a false teacher and John wanted the people to continue to remember to differentiate between good & evil as verse 11 says






The Overview Bible  tells us the following

"An even shorter letter about Christian fellowship."  


Teach Sunday School  tells us the following

"John criticised a false teacher in this very short letter.  He even called him out by name."  

 


Why was it Written? 

It was written to encourage about love and truth and to warn about the false teaching that was coming into the church and specifically warn about a certain person.




The Overview Bible  tells us the following

"This letter repeats many themes from John’s first letter, and Second John reflects these themes as well. Third John shows us what happens when people follow sound teaching . . . and when they don’t:
  • When Christians walk in truth, joy abounds (3 Jn 4). When someone in the church rejects the truth, everyone hurts (3 Jn 19).
  • When Christians support one another, they share fellowship in the truth (3 Jn 8). When someone seeks his own power, the fellowship is at risk (3 Jn 9–10).

Overall, the three letters from John give us an idea of what the apostle thought was most important at the time: sound teaching, obedience to God, and brotherly love."
  


Teach Sunday School  tells us the following

"The letter shows us that even when the church was less than 50 years old, it had the same types of problems we have today with divisions and dishonesty."  




Which other books of the Bible is this linked to? 

John wrote three epistles of which this is the third which follows
 1st John and 2nd John  

other books would be


  • The Gospel of John (also written by John)
  • Revelation (also written by John)
  • Jude (also only one chapter long)
  • Philemon (also only one chapter long)
  • Obadiah (also only one chapter long)






  • How does it end?


    With the wish to visit in person in the 
    first half of verse 13


    and a farewell greeting in the 
    second half of verse 13

    "Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name."





    The Overview Bible  gives us this


    Quick outline of 3 John

    1. Praise for walking in truth (1–4)
    2. Praise for loving the brethren (5–8)
    3. Caution regarding Diotrephes (9–12)
    4. Anticipation of a visit (13–15)









    OTHER BOOKS OF THE BIBLE ARE ADDED REGULARLY AND AN UPDATED LIST CAN BE FOUND AT OUR READING THE BIBLE PAGE 









     

    Reading Through The Bible - 2 JOHN








    Some Books of the bible are very short and some are very long but this one is the 
    • shortest of them all by no. of verses
    • joint shortest of them all by no. of chapters (5 books all have only 1)
    • second shortest of them all by no. of words
    you can find these comparisons in  The 10 Shortest Books


    In fact it only takes 2 mins to read it according to Crossway and their lovely barchart









    2nd JOHN  -  NEW TESTAMENT  -  EPISTLE

    24th book of the NT 
    63rd book of the Bible



    It starts with a greeting that is different from most other epistles.
      in 2 John ch.1 v 1 we read

    "The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;"


    and quickly takes us to the assurance that this is about truth in the following verse 

    "For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever."





    What is it?

    The Book of 2 JOHN is one of the EPISTLES in the New Testament which means it is a Letter.



    How Long is it?

    It only has 1 chapter.



    When was it Written?

    It was written between 95 & 90 AD



    Who Wrote it?

    John the beloved disciple of Jesus

    The name of the letter tells us the writer.
    Other letters in the bible are named to show who the recipients of the letters were specifically intended to be but these were letters written by John son of Zebedee and brother of James.
    One of the three disciples who Jesus often took with him apart from the others. 



    Who was it Written to?

    At first glance it would look as if it was a letter written to a specific person "the elect lady" and greeting sent at the end by "the chosen lady" however there are 3 trains of thought about this

    1. the whole church
    2. a specific assembly (church)
    3. a lady

     and I think I go with number 2.





    What is it normally well-known for?

    Truth & Love are widely quoted and even appear as quickly as the Greeting in verse 3 







    continuing to emphasis Love in verse 6





    The Overview Bible  tells us the following

    "A very brief letter about walking in truth, love and obedience."  


    Teach Sunday School  tells us the following

    "This short, one-chapter book offers great encouragement to walk in the light and love one another even when it is hard"  

     


    Why was it Written? 

    It was written to encourage and remind the believers not to forget the truth in the doctrine of Christ, the love they should have for one another and to keep the commands of Jesus.

    Remembering as stated above that Truth and Love are even presented straight away in the greeting.




    The Overview Bible  tells us the following

    "He’d told them about truth, love, and obedience—now he writes to tell them what to do about it.

    In Second John, the elder (2 Jn 1) briefly explains the relationship between the three:

    • Love and truth. ........ When two parties know the truth, love comes naturally.
    • Truth and obedience. ..... When you know the truth, obedience comes naturally.
    • Obedience and love. ..... A sure sign of obedience to God is love for His church, and a sure sign of love is obedience to God.

    He then warns that ........ They should beware of teachers who do not acknowledge Jesus’ human life and who deviate from the things He taught (2 Jn 8–9). Such people are dangerous: the church shouldn’t side with them, shouldn’t invite them in, and shouldn’t participate in their actions (2 Jn 10–11)."  


    Teach Sunday School  tells us the following

    "1 John was written to combat false teaching ..... in 2 John he is addressing the same issue but not in as much detail."  




    Which other books of the Bible is this linked to? 

    John wrote three epistles of which this is the second which follows 1st John and is followed by 3rd John  

    other books would be


  • The Gospel of John (also written by John)
  • Revelation (also written by John)
  • Jude (also only one chapter long)
  • Philemon (also only one chapter long)
  • Obadiah (also only one chapter long)






  • How does it end?


    With the desire to come and visit in person instead of writing another letter in verse 12

    "Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full."



    and another greeting in verse 13 

    "The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen."





    The Overview Bible  gives us this


    Quick outline of 2 John

    1. Walk in truth (1–4)
    2. Love others and obey God (5–6)
    3. Beware false teachers (7–11)
    4. Look forward to a visit (12–13)










    OTHER BOOKS OF THE BIBLE ARE ADDED REGULARLY AND AN UPDATED LIST CAN BE FOUND AT OUR READING THE BIBLE PAGE