1 Corinthians 7-9 - I do all things for the sake of the gospel

Concerning Marriage and Singleness

1Co 7:5 LSB – [5] Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

1Co 7:16 LSB – [16] For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

1Co 7:20 LSB – [20] Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called.

1Co 7:29, 31 LSB – 

[29] But this I say, brothers, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; ... 

[31] and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it. For the form of this world is passing away.

1Co 7:39-40 LSB – [39] A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband has fallen asleep, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. [40] But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

Take Care with Your Liberty

1Co 8:1-3 LSB – [1] Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. [2] If anyone thinks that he has known anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; [3] but if anyone loves God, he has been known by Him.

1Co 8:11-13 LSB – [11] For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. [12] And in that way, by sinning against the brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. [13] Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again--ever, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.

Paul Gives Up His Rights

1Co 9:14 LSB – [14] So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.

1Co 9:16 LSB – [16] For if I proclaim the gospel, I have nothing to boast, for I am under compulsion. For woe is me if I do not proclaim the gospel.

1Co 9:20-23 LSB – 

[20] And to the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews. To those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law. [21] To those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 

[22] To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. 

[23] So I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

1Co 9:27 LSB – [27] but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 4-6 - Washed, Santified, and Justified

Servants of Christ

1Co 4:1 LSB – [1] Let a man consider us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1Co 4:3-4 LSB – [3] But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by [any] human court. In fact, I do not even examine myself. [4] For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted. But the one who examines me is the Lord.

1Co 4:5 LSB – [5] Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, [but wait] until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and make manifest the motives of hearts. And then each one's praise will come to him from God.

1Co 4:11-13 LSB – 

[11] To this present hour we hunger and thirst, and are poorly clothed, and roughly treated, and homeless; [12] and we labor, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; 

[13] when we are slandered, we try to plead; we have become as the scum of the world, the grime of all things, [even] until now.

1Co 4:15 LSB – [15] For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet [you would] not [have] many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

Sexual Immorality in the Church

1Co 5:11 LSB – [11] But now I am writing to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is a sexually immoral person, or greedy, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one.

Lawsuits Among Believers

1Co 6:9-10 LSB – [9] Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither [the] sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, [10] nor thieves, nor [the] greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

1Co 6:11 LSB – [11] And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Flee Sexual Immorality

1Co 6:18 LSB – [18] Flee sexual immorality. Every [other] sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral man sins against his own body.

1Co 6:19-20 LSB – [19] Or do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? [20] For you were bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 1-3 - Christ Jesus, Our Wisdom from God, Righteousness and Sanctification, and Redemption

Christ Is Undivided

1Co 1:2 LSB – 

[2] To the church of God which is at Corinth, 

to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, 

called as saints, 

with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours:

1Co 1:6-8 LSB – 

[6] even as the witness about Christ was confirmed in you, 

[7] so that you are not lacking in any gift, 

eagerly awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

[8] who will also confirm you to the end, 

beyond reproach in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 1:9 LSB – [9] God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1Co 1:13, 17 LSB – 

[13] Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? ... [17] For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to proclaim the gospel, not in wisdom of word, so that the cross of Christ will not be made empty.

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

1Co 1:18 LSB – [18] For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.

1Co 1:22-24 LSB – 

[22] For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom, 

[23] but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 

[24] but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1Co 1:27-29 LSB – 

[27] But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 

[28] and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may abolish the things that are, 

[29] so that no flesh may boast before God.

1Co 1:30-31 LSB – 

[30] But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, 

who became to us wisdom from God, 

and righteousness and sanctification, 

and redemption, 

[31] so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."

Paul’s Reliance upon the Spirit

1Co 2:2 LSB – [2] For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

1Co 2:3-5 LSB – [3] And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, [4] and my word and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, [5] so that your faith would not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

1Co 2:7 LSB – [7] But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the [wisdom] which has been hidden, which God predestined before the ages to our glory,

1Co 2:9 LSB – [9] But just as it is written, 

"THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, 

AND [which] HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, 

ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."

1Co 2:9 ESV – [9] But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"--

Isa 64:4 LSB – [4] For from ancient [times] they have not heard or given ear, 

Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, 

Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.

1Co 2:10-13 LSB – 

[10] But to us God revealed [them] through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 

[11] For who among men knows the [depths] of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the [depths] of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 

[12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the [depths] graciously given to us by God, 

[13] of which [depths] we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual [depths] with spiritual [words].

1Co 2:14-16 LSB – 

[14] But a natural man does not accept the [depths] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually examined. 

[15] But he who is spiritual examines all things, yet he himself is examined by no one. 

[16] For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL DIRECT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

Isa 40:13 LSB – [13] Who has encompassed the Spirit of Yahweh, Or as His counselor has informed Him?

 

Jesus Christ, Our Foundation

1Co 3:6-9 LSB – 

[6] I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 

[7] So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 

[8] Now he who plants and he who waters are one, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 

[9] For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

1Co 3:12-15 LSB – 

[12] Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 

[13] each man's work will become evident, for the day will indicate it because it is revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. 

[14] If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 

[15] If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

1Co 3:16 LSB – [16] Do you not know that you are a sanctuary of God and [that] the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1Co 3:16 NLT – [16] Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

1Co 3:21-23 LSB – [21] So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, 

[22] whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, 

[23] and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Acts 20:7 - dialegomai - preached / spoke / 강론할 새

Act 20:7 KJV – [7] And upon the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

Act 20:7 NKJV – [7] Now on the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

Act 20:7 KOR – [7] 안식 후 첫날에 우리가 떡을 떼려 하여 모였더니 바울이 이튿날 떠나고자 하여 저희에게 강론할새 말을 밤중까지 계속하매

STRONGS G1256:

διαλέγομαι; imperfect διελεγόμην; [1 aorist 3 person singular διελέξατο (L T Tr WH in Acts 17:2; Acts 18:19)]; 1 aorist διελέχθην; (middle of διαλέγω, to select, distingish);
1. to think different things with oneself, mingle thought with thought (cf. διαλογίζομαι); to ponder, revolve in mind; so in Homer.
2. as very frequent in Attic, to converse, discourse with one, argue, discuss: absolutely, [Acts 18:4]; Acts 19:8f; [Acts 20:9]; περί τινος, Acts 24:25; τινί, with one, Acts 17:17; Acts 18:19; Acts 20:7; Hebrews 12:5; ἀπὸ τῶν γραφῶν, drawing arguments from the Scriptures, Acts 17:2; πρός τινα, Acts 17:17; Acts 24:12; with the idea of disputing prominent: πρὸς ἀλλήλους, followed by the interrogative τίς, Mark 9:34; περί τινος, Jude 1:9.

Verses with dialegomai 

Mar 9:34 NKJV – [34] But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who [would be the] greatest.

Act 17:2, 17 NKJV – [2] Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ... [17] Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the [Gentile] worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.

Act 18:4, 19 NKJV – [4] And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. ... [19] And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

Act 19:8 NKJV – [8] And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.

Act 20:7, 9 NKJV – [7] Now on the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. ... [9] And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.

Act 24:12, 25 NKJV – [12] "And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. ... [25] Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."

Heb 12:5 NKJV – [5] And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;

Jde 1:9 NKJV – [9] Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

πᾶς (pas) and πολύς (polys)

The debate over whether Jesus died for "all" or "many" heavily relies on the nuance of two foundational Koine Greek words: πᾶς (pas) and πολύς (polys), alongside the Hebrew concepts that influenced the New Testament writers.

1. Πολλῶν (Pollon / Polloi) – "Many"

The Greek word πολλῶν (pollon, the genitive form of polloi) translates literally to "many." This is the term Jesus used during the Last Supper: "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many (pollon) for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28).

• The Semitic Background (The Rabbîm Connection): Biblical scholars emphasize that Jesus and His disciples spoke Aramaic and were deeply saturated in the Hebrew Scriptures. When Jesus used "many," He was directly referencing the prophecy of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53:11-12, which says the servant will "justify many" and "bore the sin of many".

Isa 53:11-12 LSB – 

[11] As a result of the anguish of His soul, 

He will see [it and] be satisfied; 

By His knowledge the Righteous One, 

My Servant, will justify the many, 

As He will bear their iniquities. 

[12] Therefore, I will divide for Him a portion with the many, 

And He will divide the spoil with the strong; 

Because He poured out His soul to death, 

And was numbered with the transgressors; 

Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, 

And interceded for the transgressors.

• Inclusive vs. Exclusive Meaning: In classical Greek and modern English, "many" is exclusive—it means a large number, but explicitly not all. However, the underlying Hebrew word רַבִּים (rabbîm) functions inclusively to mean "the multitude" or "the totality".

• The Theological Divide:
• Particular Redemption (Calvinist) view: They take pollon strictly in its narrow Greek sense—Jesus died for a specific, vast multitude (the elect), but not for every single person.
• General Atonement (Arminian/Protestant/Catholic) view: They argue pollon means "the mass of humanity." It contrasts the One who died with the countless many who benefit, making it a synonym for "all."

2. Πάντων (Panton / Pas) – "All"

The Greek word πάντων (panton, a form of pas) translates directly to "all," "every," or "the whole." This is the word used in passages like 1 Timothy 2:6, which says Christ "gave himself as a ransom for all (panton)."

1Ti 2:6 LSB – [6] who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the witness for this proper time.

 

• The Theological Divide:

• General Atonement view: They take panton at face value. "All" means every single individual human being without exception. Therefore, the scope of the atonement is structurally universal.

• Particular Redemption view: They argue that panton must be interpreted by its context, often meaning "all kinds of people" (e.g., Jews and Gentiles, kings and peasants) rather than every single individual. They point to verses where "all" clearly means a specific group, such as 2 Corinthians 5:14: "one died for all, and therefore all died"—arguing that this "all" refers only to those who spiritually died and rose with Christ.

2Co 5:14 LSB – [14] For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died.

How did Jesus die for all? In the sense that His death is able to save all who will come to Him and is a demonstration of God's love to all; but not in the sense that all are saved because Jesus died (which is the false doctrine of universalism).

However, it is probable that in this context Paul means "all the saved" when he says all. There is no doubt that there is a sense in which Jesus died for the whole world: And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world (1 John 2:2). But the all Paul mentions here is probably "all the saved," because he also writes then all died. It can only be said that those who join themselves to Jesus by faith have spiritually died and risen again with Him (Romans 6:1-6).

1Jo 2:2 LSB – [2] and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for [those of] the whole world.

Rom 6:1-6 LSB –

[1] What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?

[2] May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

[3] Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? [4] Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

[5] For if we have become united with [Him] in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be [in the likeness] of His resurrection,

[6] knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [Him], in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

 

3. Summary of the Linguistic Interplay

Greek Word	Literal Meaning	Key Bible Verse	How Unlimited View Sees It	How Limited View Sees It
Πολλῶν (Pollon)	Many / Multitude	Matthew 26:28 ("poured out for many")	Inclusively: The entire human race, matching the Hebrew rabbîm.	Exclusively: The specific, large number of God's chosen elect.
Πάντων (Panton)	All / Everyone	1 Timothy 2:6 ("a ransom for all")	Universally: Every single human individual who has ever lived.	Categorically: All types of people (both Jews and Gentiles), not every single individual.

Ultimately, New Testament writers used both terms to paint a complete picture: "Many" emphasizes the staggering magnitude and grandeur of the crowd being saved (reversing the effects of the Fall), while "All" emphasizes that the boundaries of God's grace span across every nation, race, and class of humanity.

Jesus Died for All or Many

The phrase "for many" comes from Jesus' words at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24), while other biblical passages state that He died "for all" (2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Timothy 2:6). 

Mat 26:28 LSB – [28] for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

Mar 14:24 LSB – [24] And He said to them, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

2Co 5:15 LSB – [15] And He died for all, so that they who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

1Ti 2:6 LSB – [6] who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the witness for this proper time.

Christians hold two main views on this question:

1. Unlimited Atonement (Universal in Extent)

• The View: Jesus died for every single human being who has ever lived.
• How "Many" is Understood: In this view, "many" is used inclusively (meaning "the many" or all of humanity, as opposed to just one group or nation like the Jews).
• Key Idea: The sacrifice is sufficient for all, meaning the door is open to everyone, but it is effective only for those who believe.
• Supported By: Verses like John 3:16 ("for God so loved the world") and 1 John 2:2 ("not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world").

Jhn 3:16 LSB – [16] "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

1Jo 2:2 LSB – [2] and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for [those of] the whole world.

2. Limited Atonement / Definite Atonement (Particular Redemption)

• The View: Jesus specifically died to effectively save the elect—those chosen by God—rather than every individual. (This is the "L" in the Calvinist TULIP framework).
• How "Many" is Understood: "Many" is literal and specific, referring to the multitude who are actually redeemed by His blood.
• Key Idea: If Jesus died for everyone and paid for all sins, then nobody should go to hell for sin; therefore, His death actually accomplished the salvation of those it was meant for without failing.
• Supported By: Passages highlighting that Christ laid down His life specifically for His "sheep" (John 10:15) or the church (Ephesians 5:25).

Jhn 10:15 LSB – [15] even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

 

Eph 5:25 LSB – [25] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

Habakkuk 1-3 - The Righteous Will Live by His Faith

Habakkuk Calls for Help

Hab 1:2 LSB – [2] How long, O Yahweh, will I call for help, And You will not hear? I cry out to You, "Violence!" Yet You do not save.

Yahweh Raises the Dreaded Chaldeans

Hab 1:6 LSB – [6] "For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, That bitter and hasty nation Who walks on the breadth of the land To possess dwelling places which are not theirs.

Yahweh Has Placed Them to Judge

Hab 1:13 LSB – [13] [Your] eyes are too pure to see evil, And You cannot look on trouble. Why do You look On those who deal treacherously? [Why] are You silent when the wicked swallow up Those more righteous than they?

The Righteous Will Live by His Faith

Hab 2:4 LSB – [4] "Behold, as for the proud one, 

His soul is not right within him; 

But the righteous will live by his faith.

Rom 1:16-17 LSB – 

[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 

[17] For in it [the] righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY FAITH."

Gal 3:10-14 LSB – 

[10] For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse, for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO DO THEM." 

[11] Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident, for "THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." 

[12] However, the Law is not of faith; rather, "HE WHO DOES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM." 

[13] Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"-- 

[14] in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Yet I Will Exult in Yahweh

Hab 3:16 LSB – [16] I heard, and my inward parts trembled; 

At the sound my lips tingled. 

Decay enters my bones, 

And in my place I tremble. 

Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, 

For the people to arise [who] will invade us.

Hab 3:17-19 LSB – 

[17] Though the fig tree should not blossom 

And there be no produce on the vines, 

[Though] the yield of the olive should fail 

And the fields yield no food, 

Though the flock should be cut off from the fold 

And there be no cattle in the stalls, 

[18] Yet I will exult in Yahweh; 

I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. 

[19] Yahweh, the Lord, is my strength, 

And He has set my feet like hinds' [feet] 

And makes me tread on my high places. 

For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.

Zephaniah 1-3 - The Day of Yahweh Is Near

Yahweh Will End All Things

Zep 1:2-4 LSB – 

[2] "I will completely end all [things] From the face of the ground," declares Yahweh. 

[3] "I will end man and beast; I will end the birds of the sky And the fish of the sea And the ruins along with the wicked; And I will cut off man from the face of the ground," declares Yahweh. 

[4] "So I will stretch out My hand against Judah And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, [And] the names of the idolatrous priests along with the priests,

Zep 1:12 LSB – [12] "And it will be at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, 'Yahweh will not do good or evil!'

The Day of Yahweh Is Near

The Day of the LORD

Zep 1:7 LSB – [7] Be silent before Lord Yahweh! For the day of Yahweh is near, For Yahweh has prepared a sacrifice; He has set apart His guests.

Zep 1:12 LSB – [12] "And it will be at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, 'Yahweh will not do good or evil!'

Zep 1:14 LSB – [14] Near is the great day of Yahweh, Near and coming very quickly; O the sound, the day of Yahweh! In it the mighty man cries out bitterly.

Seek Yahweh Before His Day of Anger

Zep 2:1-2 LSB – [1] Gather yourselves together, indeed, gather, O nation without shame, [2] Before the decree takes effect-- The day passes like the chaff-- Before the burning anger of Yahweh comes upon you, Before the day of Yahweh's anger comes upon you.

Zep 2:3 LSB – [3] Seek Yahweh, All you humble of the earth Who have worked His justice; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of Yahweh's anger.

The Unjust Knows No Shame

Zep 3:1-2 LSB – 

[1] Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, 

The oppressive city! 

[2] She did not listen to [any] voice; 

She did not receive discipline. 

She did not trust in Yahweh; 

She did not draw near to her God.

Yahweh Will Pour Out His Anger

Zep 3:8 LSB – 

[8] "Therefore wait for Me," declares Yahweh, 

"For the day when I rise up as a witness. 

Indeed, My judgment is to assemble nations, 

To gather kingdoms, 

To pour out on them My indignation, 

All My burning anger; 

For all the earth will be devoured 

By the fire of My zeal.

Zep 3:9 LSB – 

[9] "For then I will change [them] to peoples with purified lips, 

That all of them may call on the name of Yahweh, 

To serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

Yahweh’s Joy in Restoring Israel

Zep 3:14-15 LSB – 

[14] Sing for joy, O daughter of Zion! Make a loud shout, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all [your] heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 

[15] Yahweh has taken away [His] judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is in your midst; You will fear evil no more.

Nahum 1-3 - the feet of him who proclaims good news

Yahweh’s Wrath Against Nineveh

Nah 1:1 LSB – [1] The oracle of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

Nah 1:2-3 LSB – 

[2] ALEPH 

A jealous and avenging God is Yahweh; 

Yahweh is avenging and wrathful. 

Yahweh is avenging against His adversaries, 

And He keeps [His anger] for His enemies. 

[3] BETH 

Yahweh is slow to anger and great in power, 

And Yahweh will by no means leave [the guilty] unpunished. 

In whirlwind and storm is His way, 

And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

Nah 1:7 LSB – [7] 

TETH 

Yahweh is good, A strong defense in the day of distress, 

YODH 

And He knows those who take refuge in Him.

Nah 1:15 LSB – 

[15] Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who proclaims good news, 

Who announces peace! 

Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; 

Pay your vows. 

For never again will the vile one pass through you; 

He is cut off completely.

Isa 52:7 LSB – [7] How lovely on the mountains 

Are the feet of him who proclaims good news, 

Who announces peace 

And proclaims good news of good things, 

Who announces salvation, 

[And] says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

 

Yahweh’s Destruction of Nineveh

Nah 2:13 LSB – [13] "Behold, I am against you," declares Yahweh of hosts. "And I will burn up her chariots in smoke, and a sword will devour your young lions; and I will cut off your prey from the land, and no longer will the voice of your messengers be heard."

Woe to Nineveh

Nah 3:1 LSB – [1] Woe to the city of bloodshed, completely full of deception [and] pillage; [Her] prey never departs.

 

Micah 1-7 - The Ruler Will Come from Bethlehem

Calamity in Israel and Judah

Mic 1:3-5 LSB – 

[3] For behold, Yahweh is going forth from His place. He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. 

[4] The mountains will melt under Him, And the valleys will be split, Like wax before the fire, Like water poured down a steep place. 

[5] All this is for the transgression of Jacob And for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? What is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem?

An Evil Time

Mic 2:12 LSB – [12] "I will surely assemble all of you, Jacob; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel. I will put them together like sheep in the fold; Like a flock in the midst of its pasture They will be noisy with men.

Yahweh Will Not Answer

Mic 3:7-8 LSB – 

[7] The seers will be ashamed, 

And the diviners will be humiliated. 

Indeed, they will all cover [their] mouths 

Because there is no answer from God. 

[8] On the other hand I am filled with power-- 

With the Spirit of Yahweh-- 

And with justice and might 

To declare to Jacob his transgression, 

Even to Israel his sin.

The Law Will Go Forth from Zion

Mic 4:2 LSB – 

[2] And many nations will come and say, 

"Come and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh 

And to the house of the God of Jacob, 

That He may instruct us from His ways 

And that we may walk in His paths." 

For from Zion will go forth the law, 

And the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.

The Ruler Will Come from Bethlehem

Mic 5:2-4 LSB – 

[2] "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, 

[Too] little to be among the clans of Judah, 

From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. 

His goings forth are from everlasting, 

From the ancient days." 

[3] Therefore He will give them [up] until the time 

When she who is in childbirth has borne a child. 

Then the remainder of His brothers 

Will return to the sons of Israel. 

[4] And He will stand and shepherd [His flock] 

In the strength of Yahweh, 

In the majesty of the name of Yahweh His God. 

And they will remain 

Because at that time He will be great 

To the ends of the earth.

Yahweh’s Case Against His People

What Yahweh Requires

Mic 6:8 LSB – 

[8] He has told you, O man, what is good; 

And what does Yahweh require of you 

But to do justice, to love lovingkindness, 

And to walk humbly with your God?

There Is No Upright Person

Mic 7:2 LSB – [2] The holy one has perished from the land, And there is no upright [person] among men. All of them lie in wait for bloodshed; Each of them hunts the other with a net.

Yahweh Is a Light for Me

Mic 7:7 LSB – [7] But as for me, I will watch expectantly for Yahweh; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.

Mic 7:18 LSB – [18] Who is a God like You, who forgives iniquity And passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? He does not hold fast to His anger forever Because He delights in lovingkindness.