Picturepocket's Blog

Tag: Bible

  • Genesis 1: 1-13: Beginnings

    The book of Genesis, meaning beginning, starts with God creating our world. It says the Earth was formless and empty and the spirit hovered over the face of the waters. God said, let there be light, and there was light.  While Genesis starts our modern Bible, chronologically the oldest book, Job, references the foundation of…

  • 2 Corinthians 13: Extreme Church Makeover 

    In this section, Paul repeats his warning for a third time. He says if he comes again he will not spare them. The Corinthians keep questioning Paul, but he says they must examine themselves. If they want to see Christ speaking in him, they must prepare for his strength because even though Jesus was crucified…

  • 2 Corinthians 12: R-E-S-P-E-C-T

    Feeling like he’s not being respected, Paul shares a vision with his readers in hopes that they will listen to what he has to say. He says that a man, himself we assume, was caught up either in- or out-of-body visit to the third heaven where they experienced paradise and other unexplainable events. The what?…

  • 2 Corinthians 11: Résumé of Risk 

    In this chapter, Paul complains about the kind of preachers the Corinthians are listening to. He compares himself to a matchmaker, bringing them as pure bride to Christ. Now, he accuses them of stepping out from their pure devotion. He says that other teachers are bringing a different Jesus, a different gospel and a different…

  • 2 Corinthians 10: War of the Words

    Paul wants the Corinthian church to listen to him. He acknowledges his tension between boldness and humility. He says he is gentle and meek in person, but strong and confident in his letters so he doesn’t overwhelm them. He says the source of their struggles isn’t physical, but spiritual.  Believers have access to divine power…

  • 2 Corinthians 9: Family Style 

    In this chapter, Paul continues trying to convince the Corinthians to give to the ministry. He is raising support for believers in impoverished communities. He starts out saying that he has already bragged to the Macedonians about their generosity, and wants make sure they actually give something so he doesn’t look like a fool. He…

  • 2 Corinthians 8: The Joy of Giving

    Paul continues by addressing his audience as brothers and sisters. When I was a kid, the old pentecostal churches used to refer to each other in this manner. “And now Sister Sarah is going to play us a special on the piano.” It’s a warm way to greet our church friends.  Paul reminds the Corinthians…

  • 2 Corinthians 7: Coach Paul

    Paul starts this chapter continuing the theme of separation from lawlessness the last chapter. Believers are not to be unequally yoked, partnered, with unbelievers. Paul encouraged them to maintain purity of the body and spirit by the fear of God. Here we aren’t speaking of fear of someone irrational or vindictive, but accountability to the…

  • 2 Corinthians 5: Happy Campers

    In Chapter 5, Paul, a tentmaker by trade, starts referring to his body as a tent, a fragile structure, where his soul resides until it can go to its eternal dwelling in the heavens. He says that we groan, longing to shed the suffering in our current situation for a more complete, perfect one that…

  • 2 Corinthians 4: Jars of Clay

    Paul begins his fourth chapter reassuring the believers of his dedication to the truth and renouncing deceitful or underhanded ways. I wonder with whom he is comparing himself. Were there other leaders at the time spewing half-truths and lies? We certainly have those now, so what follows should be relatable. He says he refuses to…