52 Weeks in the Word - Week 50

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 Welcome to Week 50.  That's Week 50 out of 52!!  Can you believe we have made it this far?  It's exciting to think how far we have come this year!  

Last week's reading made me decide what my next Bible study would be for the New Year.  Reading through the New Testament this quickly, I've decided that I will be taking a much slower pace and just concentrating on a study of the New Testament for awhile.  My opinion, just because we can read it quickly does not mean we can absorb it best, quickly!  However, I'm still enjoying reading His Word together with you all.      

This Week's reading: 2 Thessalonians 1 - Hebrews 6.

I will provide a small amount of background information for these books below:

2 Thessalonians

Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians was written a year or two after the first.  They had some misinterpretations of the "Day of the Lord" because they thought it had already taken place, so they quit ministering.  Can you imagine??  They were also be persecuted.  

Second Thessalonians has only 3 chapters.  The first is basically about suffering. Chapter 2 assures us about our final victory in Christ.  The last chapter encourages us to live boldly and  responsibly while going through difficult times.  Chapter 1 ends with a prayer of encouragement.

Next, we have four more of Paul's letters: 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.  These letters are different in that they are addressed to individuals rather than a group.  However, they are still important and applicable to us today.

1 Timothy

This book was written by Paul around 64 and 66 AD, where he encouraged Timothy in his leadership role in the church.  It was basically an instruction manual on how to run a Christian congregation.

2 Timothy

The second letter to Timothy was written by Paul in 67 AD, while imprisoned in Rome.  This was close to the end of Timothy's life.  Instead of dwelling on Paul's own circumstances, Paul wrote to encourage Timothy to stay strong in the faith.

Titus

Titus was a Gentile who Paul led to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Titus led a church on the island of Crete.  This letter was written around 66 A.D. about Titus's pastoring role. 

Philemon

Philemon was a first-century Christian who lived in Colossae.  He led a house church in Colossae and was a dear friend of Paul's.  He also owned a slave, which is the reason Paul wrote this letter to Philemon around 60 A.D.  The slave made his way to Rome where Paul was, and Paul led him to faith in Christ.  Paul then sent him back to Philemon with the letter, asking him to forgive his slave and accept him as a brother in Christ. This is Paul's shortest letter, the shortest book in the New Testament, consisting of about 500 English words.

Hebrews

The author of the book of Hebrews is unknown, though the person knew Greek and knew the Old Testament well.  The book of Hebrews is basically a sermon on Jesus.  It was believed to be written before 70A.D.


  Have a blessed third week of Advent in the Word! 

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