{"id":918497,"date":"2024-12-09T12:05:23","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T17:05:23","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-06-23T17:04:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T21:04:09","slug":"bible-study-epiphany-3-c-january-26-2025","status":"publish","type":"bible_study","link":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/bible_study\/bible-study-epiphany-3-c-january-26-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Bible Study: Epiphany 3 (C) \u2013 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/lectionary\/epiphany-3c\/\">RCL: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/E3-2025-Bible-Study-Graphic-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-318498\" style=\"width:512px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This Bible study is part of a series produced by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/ministries\/global-partnerships\/\">Office of Global Partnerships<\/a> of The Episcopal Church.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-nehemiah-8-1-3-5-6-8-10\"><strong>Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Old Testament book of Nehemiah focuses on the period when Persia conquered Babylon, and an edict from the Persian King Cyrus allows Jewish exiles to return to Israel from Babylon. Nehemiah, the Jewish governor under Persian rule, rebuilds Jerusalem\u2019s walls and oversees many reforms, including rebuilding the Temple. Temple worship begins again and, along with it, a program of teaching the Torah, the Mosaic law, which was considered the foundation for godly and moral behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chapter 8 describes a great celebration taking place, that of the reconstruction by the rededicated community. In our current passage, we hear of the first public reading of the Torah. The people gather near one of the gates and ask the priest and scribe, Ezra, to read from Leviticus. Ezra opens the book in front of the people and reads from the law in Hebrew, \u201cfrom early morning until midday\u201d, while assistants translate and interpret. Ezra blesses the Lord, and the people answer \u201cAmen.\u201d This public reading of scriptures is the start of the practice that will continue throughout Jewish and Christian traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Indeed, this scene of a religious authority figure reading the foundational scriptures in front of the people mirrors our typical modern Sunday worship services, apart from a few differences. First, the people are returning to worship after a long absence. Second, the intensity of their reaction is not often seen in church these days: \u201cFor all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.\u201d Ezra tells them not to be grieved on this holy day; rather, he reminds them to celebrate and feast, while saving and sharing a portion of their bounty with the less fortunate. He reminds them that \u201cthe joy of the Lord is your strength.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Have you ever been so moved by a reading of Scripture that it has caused you to weep? What was the passage, and what was the circumstance? How did this impact your spiritual life?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ezra associates holy days with celebration and joy, enjoying eating and drinking, not grief or lament. The people are told to share their portions with those who have none. What new insights does this Scripture prompt for you about how sacred holy days could be observed in our time?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest, and the Temple assistants work together to provide a place for the people to hear and learn the Torah in a way that preserves the divine authority and dignity of the scriptures while making them accessible to the people. How do you see this interaction of governing and spiritual authorities working together in your own local congregational context? Is the relationship harmonious or are changes needed to improve partnerships that will spiritually benefit the people?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-psalm-19\"><strong>Psalm 19<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In exquisite, poetic prose, the psalmist conveys through two distinct passages the same message, that divine wisdom illuminates our lives. The first portion (vv. 1 \u2013 6) describes how the daily movements of the sun, the simple, ordinary-yet-extraordinarily unique passings of each day, \u201cdeclare the glory of God\u201d and \u201cshow his handiwork.\u201d The same day, viewed by all, across all corners of the earth, tells the same story about the Creator of all.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second portion of the psalm (vv. 7-12) describes as \u201cperfect\u201d the law and the Lord\u2019s divine guidance. An array of reverent descriptors unfolds: \u201creviv[ing] the soul,\u201d \u201csure,\u201d \u201cgiv[ing] wisdom,\u201d \u201cjust,\u201d \u201crejoic[ing] the heart,\u201d \u201cclear,\u201d \u201cgiv[ing] light to the eyes,\u201d \u201ctrue,\u201d \u201crighteous,\u201d \u201cmore to be desired&#8230; than gold,\u201d \u201cenlighten[ing].\u201d The law gives light to our consciences in the same way that the sun gives light to our days. God\u2019s wisdom illuminates and helps to \u201ckeep [us] from presumptuous sins.\u201d <strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Weaving these two distinct analogies into one overarching theme, the psalmist conveys not only the message that divine wisdom and guidance are available to all regardless of education or ability \u2013 we need only observe and reflect on the daily movement of the sun \u2013 but also that our deliberate dedication to learning God\u2019s statutes will satisfy our longings for guidance and feed our hunger for spiritual well-being.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Evangelism is difficult in our secularized societies, and even illegal in some countries where Episcopal\/Anglican churches are located. Yet the increasing social awareness of the urgency of caring for the environment is a link to thinking about creation and Creator. How might society\u2019s renewed interest in caring for creation open doors for us to share our love of God and creation with others? Have you encountered these shared concerns or conversations with people in your own life or church?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are there any portions of God\u2019s \u201claw\u201d that have been so enlightening for you that you can relate to the psalmist\u2019s reverential attitude? Have you ever felt that you were being providentially protected from \u201cpresumptuous sins\u201d through illuminating wisdom gained from God\u2019s teachings?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What revelations were involved in your coming to awareness of God\u2019s existence and guidance? Was it more of an instinctual understanding such as observing the movement of the sun, or were you taught in a more methodical way about God\u2019s existence and divine plans?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-corinthians-12-12-31a\"><strong>1 Corinthians 12:12-31a<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this epistle, the apostle Paul writes from Ephesus (modern Turkey) around 57 AD, to Christians in the church of Corinth, a church which he had founded. Corinth was a Greco-Roman city, a major port and industrial crossroads and a center for the arts. Its centrality meant that its residents came from diverse places and ethnicities. Paul responds here to two letters he has received from the Christians in Corinth, about divisions and disunity that have taken root in the church. <strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his response, Paul describes the interdependent body of Christ, one body with many parts, each with its function, its entirely noble and differentiated purpose and its own gifts it contributes to the whole body. We are all part of this body of Christ because we are all baptized in the one Spirit and made to drink of one Spirit. \u201cJews or Greeks, slaves or free,\u201d our status apart from the body is irrelevant. In this metaphor comparing society to a body, the weaker parts are not inferior but rather equalized in their value through receiving greater honor. Hence, any sense of hierarchy or power is neutralized by this paradoxical reversal. <strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If we are a stronger or more honorable member, we must remember that others who are weak or may seem inferior to us are nevertheless indispensable and honorable. If we see ourselves as a weaker or less worthy member of the body of Christ, it will help us to remember that greater honor is ours as inferior members, thus leveling our positions so that there is no dissension within the body. Since God has distributed diverse gifts across the body, we do not need to envy or feel ambitious about having another\u2019s gifts, nor believe that one member\u2019s gifts are worth more than another\u2019s.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We live in an era when Christians of good conscience, despite contemplating these same words from Paul applicable in our own day, are at odds with each other and may not see themselves as part of the same body or even tolerate being part of the same body. As a member of the body of Christ, how do you feel drawn by the Spirit to respond, and what actions might you take to help heal and unify the body?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In what ways might you, as a member of the body of Christ, contribute to \u201cgreater honor\u201d for members who appear weaker or inferior? What particular gifts do you bring to the body in this regard? What obstacles prevent your action and what new possibilities spring to mind that might encourage equity and unity?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-luke-4-14-21\"><strong>Luke 4:14-21<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Luke writes of Jesus\u2019 return to Galilee, after having been tempted by the devil in the wilderness. He is now filled with the power of the Spirit and about to begin his ministry in Galilee. Jesus begins to teach in the synagogues and word begins to spread about him through the surrounding country. When he arrives on the Sabbath day at the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth, which would have been his usual practice when he lived there, he stands up and reads from Isaiah: \u201cThe Spirit of the Lord is upon me&#8230;\u201d along with subsequent verses that seem to describe the ministry he is beginning. This might have appeared to the listeners in the synagogue to be simply a regular reading of the scriptures\u2026 until Jesus goes on to say, \u201cToday this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One might think that those who were listening to Jesus in the synagogue that day would have been incredulous about his seemingly self-important conclusions. On the contrary, although it is not included in the passage chosen for this commentary, the next verse reveals that his actions are, at first, well received: \u201cAll spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.&nbsp; They said, \u2018Is not this Joseph\u2019s son?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Imagine yourself in the synagogue the day that Jesus read these scriptures aloud. What would have been your reaction to his declaring, \u201cToday this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing\u201d? What would have convinced you that his seemingly outlandish statement should be taken seriously?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As Christians, we believe that God calls each of us to ministry. Imagine that you, like Jesus, are called to read this Isaiah passage that begins with \u201cThe Spirit of the Lord is upon me.\u201d What actions of ministry would you describe thereafter? What <em>has<\/em> God called you to do at this point in your life, or what <em>is<\/em> God calling you to do?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-6efc806b-fc7c-4634-b1a4-fb4996c349f2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Epiphany-3-Bible-Study.docx\">Word \u2013 Epiphany 3 (C) Bible Study<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Epiphany-3-Bible-Study.docx\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-6efc806b-fc7c-4634-b1a4-fb4996c349f2\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-e352f78d-2d23-4139-81d0-1bd39cc66fd9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Epiphany-3-Bible-Study.pdf\">PDF \u2013 Epiphany 3 (C) Bible Study<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Epiphany-3-Bible-Study.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-e352f78d-2d23-4139-81d0-1bd39cc66fd9\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RCL: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21 This Bible study is part of a series produced by the Office of Global Partnerships of The Episcopal Church. Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 The Old Testament book of Nehemiah focuses on the period when Persia conquered Babylon, and an edict from the Persian&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[23,32,52,3],"tags":[253],"class_list":["post-918497","bible_study","type-bible_study","status-publish","hentry","category-bible-studies","category-epiphany","category-sermons-that-work","category-worship-and-prayer-menu","tag-epiphany-3c"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":23,"label":"Bible Studies"},{"value":32,"label":"Epiphany"},{"value":52,"label":"Sermons That Work"},{"value":3,"label":"worship_and_prayer_menu"}],"post_tag":[{"value":253,"label":"Epiphany 3C"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":[],"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/918497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bible_study"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/918497\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":951878,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/918497\/revisions\/951878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=918497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=918497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=918497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}