Week 51 Jude
As of today I’ve got twenty-two chapters left to read – the book of Revelation – and I’ve got twelve days left to read them. So that’s an easily-manageable task (assuming I don’t end up intubated in the local hospital).
With the pressure off I’ve been thinking ahead to my bible-reading strategy for 2022. What do I read? There’s the nagging OT vs. NT debate. Dated vs. Up-to-Date. Background vs. Foreground. What’s Coming vs. What’s Here Now. I was thinking about that when I landed on Jude today.
Jude mentions a bunch of OT content in his letter. The reason is that: some godless people have wormed their way in among you, saying that God’s forgiveness allows us to live immoral lives…
That’s a pretty seriously deficient view and to highlight how serious it is Jude compares these NT creepers to a) rebellious Israel b) fallen angels c) Cain d) Balaam & e) Korah. Since I’ve read the OT I know Jude isn’t complimenting these people when he compares them to some of the notable derelicts in the OT.
Anyway getting back to my decision…I know that just because the NT refers back to the OT doesn’t prove that I should read it this year. It’s more just a reminder to me of something I already figure makes good sense…that I’m in a stronger position if I read the OT than if I don’t.
Note: quote from Jude 4 (NLT).