OUR BIBLE BAND

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 12, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 44.

Schedule for the Week Ending November 23, 1912

Sunday	November 17	1 Thessalonians 3, 4; Psalm 114
Monday	" 18	1 Thessalonians 5; Psalm 115
Tuesday	" 19	2 Thessalonians 1-3
Wednesday	" 20	Ephesians 1
Thursday	" 21	" 2
Friday	" 22	" 3
Sabbath	" 23	" 4; Psalm 116

— ★ —

Three epistles come into this week's reading,—the finishing of 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, and Ephesians. As remarked last week, 2 Thessalonians was written a few months after 1 Thessalonians, both from Corinth. Ephesians was written probably in the year 53, and is thought by some to be a general epistle to various churches, partly because of its contents, and partly because of the fact that in the earlier manuscripts "at Ephesus" is wanting. However that may be, the instruction is good for the Ephesian church, as well as for others. Our chapters on 1 Thessalonians close with very definite, clear instruction concerning the manner of our Lord's coming, and practical teaching to those who are waiting for Him. Supplementary to this are Psalms 114 and 115, both inspiring and instructive, especially concerning idolatry.

2 Thessalonians was written to correct some errors that had been imbibed because of the first epistle. It clearly shows us that the apostle did not believe that the Lord was coming in his day, and that the Lord would not come until the great apostasy had taken place. It also deals with the coming of the Lord.

The remainder of the week is filled with the first four chapters of Ephesians. Wonderfully deep are they in their instruction, the strong meat of spiritual Christianity, the first one dealing with God's election in eternity, in time, the sanctification in the Spirit, the exaltation and power of Jesus, the work that He does for those who are without Christ, but who receive Him, and the mystery of God and the oneness of His church and gifts, with excellent practical instruction which grows out of these things. Psalm 116 supplements Ephesians 4.