Bible Quote Sep 24th Romans 5:3-4

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4

===

Paul was writing to Rome from Corinth. He had Tertius of Iconium write this while he dictated. Paul had established a number of churches around the Greek seas in the decade leading up to the letter. Rome was the then undisputed capital of the 'known world.' 

Here, Paul is talking about peace and hope

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."

Read David Daniel Ball's answer to What is the background to, and meaning of Romans 5:3-4? on Quora

Bible Quote Sep 23rd Romans 15:7

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”Romans 15:7 

===

Paul was writing to Rome from Corinth. He had Tertius of Iconium write this while he dictated. Paul had established a number of churches around the Greek seas in the decade leading up to the letter. Rome was the then undisputed capital of the 'known world.' 

Here, Paul talks on the weak and the strong

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mindtoward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorifythe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
    I will sing the praises of your name.”

Again, it says,

“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”

And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
    let all the peoples extol him.”

And again, Isaiah says,

“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
    one who will arise to rule over the nations;
    in him the Gentiles will hope.”

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Read David Daniel Ball's answer to What is the background to, and meaning of Romans 15:7? on Quora

Bible Quote Sep 22nd 2 Corinthians 13:14

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14 

===

A problem with academia is the promise of the sure result, is not matched with the truth, that every result must be continuously defended. And ancient Greece was the home of academia. Paul went to Corinth and shared his life as a Christian. And Paul returned. Frustrated. Hurt. Explaining again and again what he had meant as Corinthians split hairs.

But the result is a pure distillation of Paul’s message. 

Here, Paul gives final greetings

"Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All God’s people here send their greetings.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

Read David Daniel Ball's answer to What is the background to, and meaning of 2 Corinthians 13:14? on Quora

Bible Quotes Sep 21st Joel 2:23

“Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.” Joel 2:23 

===

It is difficult to place a date for Joel, as the writing of this minor prophet has allusions to other passages written much later than 900 BC. However, it seems safe to assume that Joel was originally an early kingdom prophet, and his writing was later revised. It is unnecessary to place Joel on a timeline, except to understand on what he is remarking on, because it has a different hue if Joel is giving thanks during the old Kingdom, pre exile, post exile and so on. 

Here, we have the Lord's answer to the rent heart of His people.

"Then the Lord was jealous for his land

    and took pity on his people.

The Lord replied to them:

“I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil,
    enough to satisfy you fully;
never again will I make you
    an object of scorn to the nations.

“I will drive the northern horde far from you,
    pushing it into a parched and barren land;
its eastern ranks will drown in the Dead Sea
    and its western ranks in the Mediterranean Sea.
And its stench will go up;
    its smell will rise.”

Surely he has done great things!
    Do not be afraid, land of Judah;
    be glad and rejoice.
Surely the Lord has done great things!
    Do not be afraid, you wild animals,
    for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green.
The trees are bearing their fruit;
    the fig tree and the vine yield their riches.
Be glad, people of Zion,
    rejoice in the Lord your God,
for he has given you the autumn rains
    because he is faithful.
He sends you abundant showers,
    both autumn and spring rains, as before.
The threshing floors will be filled with grain;
    the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
    the great locust and the young locust,
    the other locusts and the locust swarm—
my great army that I sent among you.
You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,
    and you will praise the name of the Lord your God,
    who has worked wonders for you;
never again will my people be shamed.
Then you will know that I am in Israel,
    that I am the Lord your God,
    and that there is no other;

never again will my people be shamed."

Read David Daniel Ball's answer to What is the background to, and meaning of Joel 2:23? on Quora

Bible Quote Sep 20th Ephesians 4:29

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”Ephesians 4:29 

===

Ephesus is the city in modern day Turkey where John is thought to have written his Gospel, and where Paul spent a few years. The inhabitants at the time were Greek ethnically. Paul does not give characteristically personal greetings in this letter, suggesting to some that he did not write this in 62 AD from Rome, but it was written in his name between 80 and 100 AD.

Here, we have instructions for Christian living

"So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Read David Daniel Ball's answer to What is the background to, and meaning of Ephesians 4:29? on Quora

Bible Quote Sep 19th Philippians 2:3-4

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4 

===

Paul's letter to Philippians followed a time he had spent there in the late 40's. It is possible Paul is writing this letter from Rome prior to his death. The city of Philippi had been renamed after King Philip, the father of Alexander the Great. The city is in the North East of Greece and possibly had a population of 2000 at the time.

Here, we are called to imitate Christ's humility

Read David Daniel Ball's answer to What is the background to, and meaning of Philippians 2:3-4? on Quora

Bible Quote Sep 18th Ephesians 5:1

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children” Ephesians 5:1 

===

Ephesus is the city in modern day Turkey where John is thought to have written his Gospel, and where Paul spent a few years. The inhabitants at the time were Greek ethnically. Paul does not give characteristically personal greetings in this letter, suggesting to some that he did not write this in 62 AD from Rome, but it was written in his name between 80 and 100 AD.

Here, we have the call to follow God's example. 
"Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Read David Daniel Ball's answer to What is the background to, and meaning of Ephesians 5:1? on Quora