So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17
The Greek word Paul chose for new in this verse is kainos referencing a new creation that has not existed previously. This has greater implications than if Paul had instead used neos, meaning new in an already established category.
This biblical concept of kainos new is a pillar of Christian doctrine. Since God is about the work of making us new every day, we are transformed throughout our lives into a new creation, continuously growing in our resemblance to the one we follow, Jesus Christ. Evidence of this transformation can be found in our words, attitudes, actions and lifestyle.
One way that we open ourselves to experience kainos new is by practicing the spiritual discipline of reading Scripture. This is because we encounter God in the pages of Scripture. And each time we meet the living God, we are changed.
With that in mind, I invite you, the Holston Conference, to join me in reading through the Bible together individually and collectively in 2022. As we participate in “Read Together” in community, we open ourselves to experience God's presence and kainos on an individual basis and as a conference.
- Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett
.png?width=120&height=120&mode=crop)
December 31, 2022 - January 1, 2023 Ecclesiastes 3:1-13; Psalm 8; Revelation 21:1-6; Matthew 25:31-46 (NRSV) Eclesiastés 3:1-13; Salmos 8; Apocalipsis 21:1-6; Mateo 25:31-46 (RVR1960) Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 Everything Has Its Time For everything there...
December 30, 2022 Revelation 18-22 (CEB) Apocalipsis 18-22 (RVR1960) Revelation 18 Babylon’s fall After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was filled with light because of his glory. 2 He called ...
December 29, 2022 Song of Solomon 7-8 (CEB) Cantares 7-8 (RVR1960) Song of Solomon 7 How graceful are your sandaled feet, willing woman! The smooth curves of your thighs—like fine jewelry, the work of an artist’s hands! 2 Your navel,...
December 28, 2022 Psalms 149-150 (CEB) Salmos 149-150 (RVR1960) Psalm 149 Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song; sing God’s praise in the assembly of the faithful! 2 Let Israel celebrate its maker; let Zion’s children rejoice in their...
December 27, 2022 Esther 6-10 (CEB) Ester 6-10 (RVR1960) Esther 6 Honor for Mordecai That same night, the king simply couldn’t sleep. He had the official royal records brought in, and his young male servants began reading them to the king. 2 They ...
December 26, 2022 Deuteronomy 32-34 (CEB) Deuteronomio 32-34 (RVR1960) Deuteronomy 32 Heaven! Pay attention and I will speak; Earth! Listen to the words of my mouth. 2 My teaching will fall like raindrops; my speech will settle like dew— ...
December 25, 2022 Acts 27-28 (CEB) Hechos 27-28 (RVR1960) Acts 27 Paul’s voyage to Rome When it was determined that we were to sail to Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were placed in the custody of a centurion named Julius of the Imperial ...
December 24, 2022 3 John (CEB) 3 Juan (RVR1960) 3 John Greeting 1 From the elder. To my dear friend Gaius, whom I truly love. 2 Dear friend, I’m praying that all is well with you and that you enjoy good health in the same way that you prosper ...
December 23, 2022 Revelation 12-17 (CEB) Apocalipsis 12-17 (RVR1960) Revelation 12 A woman, her child, and the dragon Then a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her...
December 22, 2022 Song of Solomon 5-6 (CEB) Cantares 5-6 (RVR1960) Song of Solomon 5 [Man] I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride! I have gathered my myrrh and my spices. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine and my ...
December 21, 2022 Psalms 146-148 (CEB) Salmos 146-148 (RVR1960) Psalm 146 Praise the Lord! Let my whole being praise the Lord! 2 I will praise the Lord with all my life; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live. 3 Don’t trust leaders;...
December 20, 2022 Esther 1-5 (CEB) Ester 1-5 (RVR1960) Esther 1 Queen Vashti This is what happened back when Ahasuerus lived, the very Ahasuerus who ruled from India to Cush—one hundred twenty-seven provinces in all. 2 At that time, Ahasuerus ruled ...
December 19, 2022 Deuteronomy 29-31 (CEB) Deuteronomio 29-31 (RVR1960) Deuteronomy 29 The third heading: The new covenant at Moab These are the words of the covenant the Lord commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in the land of Moab in ...
December 18, 2022 Acts 25-26 (CEB) Hechos 25-26 (RVR1960) Acts 25 Paul appeals to Caesar Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 The chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. ...
December 17, 2022 2 John (CEB) 2 Juan (RVR1960) 2 John Greeting 1 From the elder. To the chosen gentlewoman and her children, whom I truly love (and I am not the only one, but also all who know the truth), 2 because of the truth that remains with us...
December 16, 2022 Revelation 7-11 (CEB) Apocalipsis 7-11 (RVR1960) Revelation 7 One hundred forty-four thousand sealed After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth. They held back the earth’s four winds so that no wind ...
December 15, 2022 Song of Solomon 3-4 (CEB) Cantares 3-4 (RVR1960) Song of Solomon 3 The search [Woman] Upon my bed, night after night, I looked for the one whom I love with all my heart. I looked for him but couldn’t find him. 2 “I will...
December 14, 2022 1 John 4-5 (CEB) 1 Juan 4-5 (RVR1960) 1 John 4 Testing the spirits Dear friends, don’t believe every spirit. Test the spirits to see if they are from God because many false prophets have gone into the world. 2 This is how you know ...
December 13, 2022 Nehemiah 10-13 (CEB) Nehemías 10-13 (RVR1960) Nehemiah 10 Upon the seals are the names of Governor Nehemiah, Hacaliah’s son, and Zedekiah; 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, ...
December 12, 2022 Deuteronomy 26-28 (CEB) Deuteronomio 26-28 (RVR1960) Deuteronomy 26 The ceremony upon entering the land Once you have entered the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you take possession of it and are settled...
December 11, 2022 Acts 23-24 (CEB) Hechos 23-24 (RVR1960) Acts 23 Paul stared at the council and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with an altogether clear conscience right up to this very day.” 2 The high priest Ananias ordered those standing ...
December 10, 2022 1 John 4-5 (CEB) 1 Juan 4-5 (RVR1960) 1 John 4 Testing the spirits Dear friends, don’t believe every spirit. Test the spirits to see if they are from God because many false prophets have gone into the world. 2 This is how you know ...
December 9, 2022 Revelation 1-6 (CEB) Apocalipsis 1-6 (RVR1960) Revelation 1 Greetings A revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. Christ made it known by sending it through his angel to his ...
December 8, 2022 Song of Solomon 1-2 (CEB) Cantares 1-2 (RVR1960) Song of Solomon 1 The Song of Songs, which is for Solomon. Mutual admiration [Woman] 2 If only he would give me some of his kisses . . . Oh, your loving is sweeter than wine! 3 Your ...
December 7, 2022 Psalms 140-142 (CEB) Salmos 140-142 (RVR1960) Psalm 140 For the music leader. A psalm of David. Rescue me from evil people, Lord! Guard me from violent people 2 who plot evil things in their hearts, who pick fights every...