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Colossians
This letter is addressed to a congregation at Colossae in the Lycus Valley in Asia Minor, east of Ephesus. At the time of writing, Paul had not visited there, the letter says (Col 1:4; 2:1). The community had apparently been established by Epaphras of Colossae (Col 1:7; 4:12; Phm 1:23). Problems, however, had arisen, brought on by teachers who emphasized Christ's relation to the universe (cosmos).
The principal divisions of the Letter to the Colossians are the following: Address (Col 1:1-14), The Preeminence of Christ (Col 1:15-2:3), Warnings against False Teachers (Col 2:4-23), The Ideal Christian Life in the World (Col 3:1-4:6), Conclusion (Col 4:7-18).
Day One - Colossians, Chapters 1-4
| Greeting | Colossians 1:1-2 |
| Thanksgiving | Colossians 1:3-8 |
| Prayer for Continued Progress | Colossians 1:9-14 |
| His Person and Work | Colossians 1:15-23 |
| Christ in Us | Colossians 1:24-2:3 |
| A General Admonition | Colossians 2:4-8 |
| Sovereign Role of Christ | Colossians 2:9-15 |
| Practices Contrary to Faith | Colossians 2:16-23 |
| Mystical Death and Resurrection | Colossians 3:1-4 |
| Renunciation of Vice | Colossians 3:5-17 |
| The Christian Family | Colossians 3:18-21 |
| Slaves and Masters | Colossians 3:22-4:1 |
| Prayer and Apostolic Spirit | Colossians 4:2-6 |
| Tychicus and Onesimus | Colossians 4:7-9 |
| From Paul's Co-Workers | Colossians 4:10-14 |
| A Message for the Laodiceans | Colossians 4:15-18 |
1 Thessalonians
When Paul parted from Barnabas (Act 15:36-41) at the beginning of what is called his second missionary journey, he chose Silvanus (Silas) as his traveling companion. Soon afterwards he took Timothy along with him (Act 16:1-3). Paul was now clearly at the head of his own missionary band. About A.D. 50, he arrived in Greece for the first time. In making converts in Philippi and, soon afterwards, in Thessalonica, he was beset by persecution from Jews and Gentiles alike.
The principal divisions of the First Letter to the Thessalonians are the following: Address (1Th 1:1-10), Previous Relations with the Thessalonians (1Th 2:1-3:13), Specific Exhortations (1Th 4:1-5:25), Final Greeting (1Th 5:26-28).
Day Two - 1 Thessalonians, Chapters 1-5
| Greeting | 1 Thessalonians 1:1 |
| Thanksgiving for Their Faith | 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 |
| Paul's Ministry Among Them | 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 |
| Further Thanksgiving | 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 |
| Paul's Recent Travel Plans | 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:8 |
| Concluding Thanksgiving and Prayer | 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 |
| General Exhortations | 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 |
| Holiness in Sexual Conduct | 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 |
| Mutual Charity | 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 |
| Hope for the Christian Dead | 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 |
| Vigilance | 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 |
| Church Order | 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 |
| Concluding Prayer | 1 Thessalonians 5:23-25 |
| Final Greeting | 1 Thessalonians 5:26-28 |
Hebrews
As early as the second century, this treatise, which is of great rhetorical power and force in its admonition to faithful pilgrimage under Christ's leadership, bore the title "To the Hebrews." It was assumed to be directed to Jewish Christians. Usually Hebrews was attached in Greek manuscripts to the collection of letters by Paul.
The principal divisions of the Letter to the Hebrews are the following: Introduction (Heb 1:1-4), The Son Higher than the Angels (Heb 1:5-2:18), Jesus, Faithful and Compassionate High Priest (3:1-5:10), Jesus' Eternal Priesthood and Eternal Sacrifice (5:11-10:39), Examples, Discipline, Disobedience (11:1-12:29), Final Exhortation, Blessing, Greetings (Heb 13:1-25).
Day Three - Hebrews, Chapters 1-5:10
| Introduction | Hebrews 1:1-4 |
| Messianic Enthronement | Hebrews 1:5-14 |
| Exhortation to Faithfulness | Hebrews 2:1-4 |
| Exaltation through Abasement | Hebrews 2:5-18 |
| Jesus, Superior to Moses | Hebrews 3:1-6 |
| Israel's Infidelity a Warning | Hebrews 3:7-19 |
| The Sabbath Rest | Hebrews 4:1-13 |
| Jesus, Compassionate High Priest | Hebrews 4:14-5:10 |
Day Four - Hebrews, Chapters 5:11-9
| Exhortation to Spiritual Renewal | Hebrews 5:11-6:12 |
| God's Promise Immutable | Hebrews 6:13-20 |
| Melchizedek, a Type of Christ | Hebrews 7:1-28 |
| Heavenly Priesthood of Jesus | Hebrews 8:1-6 |
| Old and New Covenants | Hebrews 8:7-13 |
| The Worship of the First Covenant | Hebrews 9:1-10 |
| Sacrifice of Jesus | Hebrews 9:11-28 |
Day Five - Hebrews, Chapters 10-13
| One Sacrifice instead of Many | Hebrews 10:1-18 |
| Recalling the Past | Hebrews 10:19-39 |
| Faith of the Ancients | Hebrews 11:1-40 |
| God our Father | Hebrews 12:1-13 |
| Penalties of Disobedience | Hebrews 12:14-13:25 |
Song of Songs
The Song of Songs, meaning the greatest of songs (Son 1:1), contains in exquisite poetic form the sublime portrayal and praise of the mutual love of the Lord and his people. The Lord is the Lover and his people are the beloved. Describing this relationship in terms of human love, the author simply follows Israel's tradition.
Day Six - Song of Songs, Chapters 1-5:1
| Love's Desires | Song of Songs 1:1-4 |
| Love's Boast | Song of Songs 1:5-6 |
| Love's Inquiry | Song of Songs 1:7-8 |
| Love's Vision | Song of Songs 1:9-11 |
| Love's Union | Song of Songs 1:12-2:7 |
| A Tryst in the Spring | Song of Songs 2:8-17 |
| Loss and Discovery | Song of Songs 3:1-5 |
| Regal State of the Bridegroom | Song of Songs 3:6-11 |
| The Charms of the Beloved | Song of Songs 4:1-11 |
| The Lover and His Garden | Song of Songs 4:12-5:1 |
Day Seven - Song of Songs, Chapters 5:2-8
| A Fruitless Search | Song of Songs 5:2-8 |
| The Charms of the Lost Love | Song of Songs 5:9-16 |
| Discovery | Song of Songs 6:1-3 |
| The Charms of the Beloved | Song of Songs 6:4-10 |
| Love's Meeting | Song of Songs 6:11-12 |
| The Beauty of the Bride | Song of Songs 7:1-6 |
| Love's Desires | Song of Songs 7:7-10 |
| Love's Union | Song of Songs 7:11-8:4 |
| Homecoming | Song of Songs 8:5 |
| True Love | Song of Songs 8:6-7 |
| Chastity and Its Welcome | Song of Songs 8:8-10 |
| The Bride and Her Dowry | Song of Songs 8:11-12 |
| Life Together | Song of Songs 8:13-14 |
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