1 Timothy 1:15-17 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible,...  Read More

1 Timothy 1:12-14 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.       If ...  Read More

Matthew 2:9-12 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treas...  Read More

Matthew 2:3-8 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For...  Read More

Matthew 2:7, 9 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared… and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.Although the word for “star” (Gr. aster; Heb. kokab) in Scripture can be any shining point of light in the night sky, an actual star in the heavens is an enormous m...  Read More

Matthew 2:1b-2 Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”The magi “from the east” (lit. “from the rising”) appear to be a remnant of God-fearing Gentiles influenced by the prophecies of Daniel, dating back to the sixth century BC. As they came into town, they were “saying,” Where...  Read More

Matthew 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem…Sometime after the events of Luke 2:21-38, after Mary completed her purification rites related to childbirth, she and Joseph settled in Bethlehem before “magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem.” Though legends of their identity abound, the Bible does not even reveal ho...  Read More

Luke 2:15-20 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been...  Read More

Luke 2:8-14 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for...  Read More

Luke 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, since there was no room for them in the inn.In v. 7, without any fanfare, Luke calls Jesus Mary’s “firstborn” (Gr. prototokos). This implies other children born later to Joseph and Mary (8:19-21; cf. Matt. 13:55-56). If Jesus was Mary’s “only” son, as Roman Catholicism espouses, Luke would ha...  Read More

Luke 2:4-7 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in ...  Read More

Luke 2:1-3 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.Caesar Augustus is just one of many historical figures Luke references in his narrative. Born Gaius Octavius but later given the...  Read More