Weekly Bible Readings by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 12, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 49.

Weekly Bible Readings

By Editor

Sunday December 17 Hebrews 11-13 Monday " 18 James 1-5 Tuesday " 19 1 Peter 1-4 Wednesday " 20 1 Peter 5; 2 Peter 1-3 Thursday " 21 1 John 1-4 Friday " 22 1 John 5; 2 John 1; 3 John 1; Jude 1 Sabbath " 23 Psalms 120-131

We can not take time to make extended comment on these various epistles. We shall remember Hebrews by its wonderful examples of faith, which are given us in this week's reading; the general epistle of James, written to Christians scattered abroad, by the exceedingly practical tone of the letter. It not only applied in the apostle's own day, but it also looked forward to our time, when the coming of the Lord is near.

The first epistle of Peter is also an intensely practical one of deep spirituality, exalting our Lord Jesus Christ and His Word, and also pointing out the importance of Christ's second coming. The second epistle pertains almost wholly to Christ's second coming and the great day of the Lord, the consummation of all things.

The first epistle of John is also general in its scope, written not to any one church, but to all; filled full of the importance of love in the service of God,—of a love that is manifest not merely in sentiment, but in practical, godly living, and in loving obedience to all the commandments of God. And there are faithful warnings against all specious philosophy which would lead away from this. 2 John seems to have been written to some particular person, symbolical of the church. Some commentators regard the name Cyria, or Kyria, as a term by which the apostle means the church. Its emphasis is laid upon the keeping of God's commandments, and walking in love before Him. His third epistle is written to a friend, Gaius, pointing out the dangers of false teachers and warning against their sophistry and error.

The epistle of Jude is quite similar to that of 2 Peter. Its great and important thought is the great day of the Lord, and of judgment which is sure to come, which will reveal and punish sin; and the emphasis laid upon the great truth that we are kept only through Jesus Christ.

We turn again, in this week's reading, to the Psalms, 120 to 131 inclusive.