Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
Behold, I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.
Merry Christmas from our family to yours! May your holiday be blessed as you celebrate the birth of our Savior.
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
This week marks the final passage of 1 Peter, where Peter gives a few final greetings and closes. You can find it in 1 Peter 5:13-14.
This final passage can be broken into four easy portions for discussion. Each of them provides valuable insight into the early church and those who served as leaders.
The first phrase is the most ambiguous of them all. There are a couple of different possibilities as to what Peter is referring to here. It is worth noting that Peter’s choice of words is almost identical to that of John’s in his final words of 2 John, “The children of your chosen sister send their greetings.” Both John and Peter focus on the fact that we have been chosen by God as a central focus in much of their writings, as Peter did in 1:1-2. This provides a nice set of bookends for Peter’s letter.
One other item in this phrase bears some scrutiny. Peter refers to Babylon. There are a couple of possibilities. It could be the major city that existed in Mesopotamia, the literal Babylon. It could also be a reference to a less well known town of the same name in Egypt. Most likely, Peter uses it like John does in Revelation, as a veiled reference to Rome. With Peter’s historical connection to Rome, this seems the most plausible.
Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
Each year, I try to accumulate a series of excellent gift giving guides and suggestions for Christmas. It’s right around the corner, after all. And this list may have that special something for that person you have a hard time shopping for. So this edition of Coffee Break is dedicated to gathering and listing some great shopping lists, all in one place. Some of these links are curated lists from other blogs and sources, some are my own recommendations. Hopefully, you’ll find it helpful as you shop for those you love.
Gifts For Men – These links are all on sites that are designed for men. However, there is also a great guide to selecting the right gift or stocking stuffer for the woman in your life.
The Art Of Manliness Store Gift Guide
The Art Of Manliness – Gifts Under $50
The Art Of Manliness – Gifts $50 to $100
The Art Of Manliness – Gifts for the Traveler
The Art Of Manliness – Gifts Made in the USA
The Art Of Manliness – Gifts for the Tactical Guy
The Art Of Manliness – Gifts for the Athlete
The Art Of Manliness – Gifts for the Woman in Your Life
The Art Of Manliness – Guide To Stocking Stuffers for Women
The Art Of Manliness – Guide To Stocking Stuffers for Men
Gentleman’s Gazette – Holiday Gift Guide for Men
Gentleman’s Gazette – Holiday Gift Guide for Women
Real Men Real Style – A great selection of men’s quality clothing ideas
Gadgets – A pretty comprehensive gift guide can be found at The Verge. Not all of the items on this list are recommended, however, there are a few that I found interesting. You can also check out this list at Mental Floss.
Coffee – No list would be complete without items pertaining to coffee. Of course, I always recommend the Hario V60, the Chemex, a great French Press, and the Aeropress.
The Coffee Compass – Holiday Gift Guide
Coffee Brew Guides – Holiday Gift Guide
Coffee Geek – Gifts Under $40
Coffee Geek – Gifts Under $100
Coffee Geek – Gifts Under $500
Coffee Brewing Dice – Send these to me please.
The last few verses of 1 Peter are the final greetings that Peter gives to his readers. He begins by giving credit to Silas for his help. Take a look at 1 Peter 5:12.
Just who is this guy that Peter is talking about, and how was he such a help to Peter?
In the original language, Peter uses the name Silvanus. Many of the modern translations, such as the NIV, use Silas, and they do so based on a couple of specific thoughts. First of all, that this Silvanus was the same one mentioned in the letter of 2 Corinthians, as a coworker of Paul and Timothy. Second, that Silvanus is the man named Silas in Acts, who was sent to Antioch by the Jerusalem church leaders, and then joined Paul on his second missionary journey.
Silas is a Greek name, while Silvanus is Latin, and in the case of Paul’s mention of Silvanus, and Luke’s person named Silas, it is possible that they are the same person. If so, then it is also likely that this is the same person to which Peter is referring to as well. Based on what we know of Silas/Silvanus, his efforts with Paul and now possibly with Peter make him a “faithful brother,” and a great help in ministry to Peter.