1 Corinthians 4 (résumé): Apostles of Christ

Paul starts chapter 4 saying that "men ought to regard us apostles as servants of Christ... I care little if I am judged by you... for I have a clear conscience... but it is the Lord who judges me... when the Lord comes he will reveal what is hidden in darkness... so do not go beyond what is written... and don't take pride in one man over another... for everything we have we received from God so there is no room for boasting... but you feel rich as kings but us apostles are like men condemned to die... we are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ!... we have become scum, the refuse of the world... so I am writing this to warn you... and I urge you to imitate me... because some of you have become arrogant... but don't think I won't soon be there to sort out the arrogant... because the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power!"

Cultura Inglesa Run

Cultura Inglesa is the name of our daughters' excellent English Language School which teaches children, youth and adults taking them to real fluency and confidence in the English Language. Yesterday evening they organized the 'Cultura Inglesa Run' to encourage physical exercise and publicize the school. Children ran for 1 km and youth and adults either ran 3 km or 5 km, so Liz and I went in support and walked 3 km. The event was brilliantly organized with everything bang on time, and I was gob smacked by the technology involved to give serious athletes their times, and the photography and filming including drones. Well done girls! A great crowd gathered to watch the about 500 athletes taking part. Our granddaughter Beatriz (Bia) won a second place medal in the woman's 3 km race. 

1 Corinthians 3 (résumé): Paul further rebukes divisions in the Church

Paul starts 1 Corinthians 3 further rebuking divisions and sectarianism in the church: "I couldn't address you as spiritual but as worldly... and I had to give you milk, not solid food... for there is jealousy and quarrelling amongst you... disputing between those in favour of Paul and Apollos... but I planted the seed, Apollos watered but it was God who gave the increase... for we are God's fellow workers and you are God's building... each should be careful how he builds because no new foundation can be laid other than the one already laid which is Jesus Christ... and the construction will be revealed by fire on the Day which will test the quality of each man's work... you are God's temple and his Spirit lives in you and if anyone destroys God's temple God will destroy him... for the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight... and the thoughts of the wise are futile... and all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God"".

1 Corinthians 2 (résumé): Wisdom from the Spirit

Now in 1 Corinthians 2 Paul shows that the Christian message does not depend on human wisdom, clever speech, or a brilliant mind. Instead, it rests on Christ crucified and the power of the Holy Spirit. So Paul starts: "I didn't come to you will eloquence or brilliance but I proclaimed testimony about God... my preaching was not with wise persuasive words but in the power of the Spirit... so that your faith might rest on God's power... we do however speak of God's secret wisdom among the mature... for no eyes has seen, ear heard, mind conceived... what God has prepared for those who love him... and the Spirit searches the deep things of God... and we've received the Spirit so that we can understand what God has given us... and the spiritual man makes judgements about all things... for we have the mind of Christ". 

1 Corinthians 1 (résumé): Divisions in the Church

The church at Corinth in Greece was founded by the apostle Paul on his second missionary journey in about 50/51 AD together with Aquila and Priscila. This book/letter deals with topics such as division, immorality and spiritual gifts etc. in the church at Corinth. 

Paul starts 1 Corinthians 1 greeting the church with grace and peace as he always does in his letters thanking God for the grace they have received in Christ and for God's faithfulness. He then addresses the problem of division the church was facing: "I appeal to you... that there be no divisions among you... for I have been informed that there are quarrels among you... and factions have been formed with some with Paul, others with Apollos, others with Cephas, and others with Christ!... is Christ divided?... was Paul crucified for you?... were you baptized into the name of Paul?... Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel... for the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God!... for God was pleased through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe... Jews want signs and Greeks want wisdom but we preach Christ crucified... for the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom... and God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise... and Christ Jesus has become for us wisdom from God... so let him who boasts boast in the Lord!

Assisted suicide bill defeated

I am very happy to hear from the UK House of Commons that the assisted suicide bill was defeated by 286 votes against 270. This is excellent and a vote in line with our Christian values. 

Yesterday I concluded writing the summaries of each of the 16 chapters of Romans which means I have now done 45 books of the Bible, 1,062 chapters and just over 89% of the Bible. Now it's on to the 16 chapters of 1st Corinthians.

QPR have just drawn 1 x 1 away to West Brom in an early match this Saturday. 

Romans 16 (résumé): Personal Greetings

Paul brings his epistle to a close with personal greetings, commends faithful servants, warns about false teachers and ends on a note of God's glory. First then Paul commends the deaconess Phoebe and then greets Priscilla and Aquila including the church which meets at their house. Paul then greets the first Asian convert Epenetus, plus Mary, and the apostles Adronicus and Junias who had become Christians before Paul. Then he greets Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, Aristobulus, Herodian, Narcissus, Tryphena and Tryphosa who were hard workers, Persis, Rufus and his mother, Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, Olympas and all the saints. "Greet one another with a holy kiss". Paul then alerts to those causing divisions... by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the naive... the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet... my fellow worker Timothy sends greetings... Gaius and Erastus send greetings... so to the only wise God be glory for ever through Jesus Christ! Amen".