a thread opens
And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
The Vigil
Today’s scroll, one verse at a time — each linked to the last by the cross-references rather than by any model of you. The same vigil for everyone, and a different one tomorrow.
And it happened, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
from Genesis 10:10 · a strong link
And he said to me, To build it a house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
from Genesis 11:2
For therefore he sent to us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build you houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
from Zechariah 5:11
Build houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
from Jeremiah 29:28
And they shall dwell safely in it, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yes, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them around them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God.
from Jeremiah 29:5
a thread opens
As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
from I Corinthians 8:4
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
from Ephesians 4:6
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
from Ephesians 3:17 · a strong link
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.
from Galatians 2:20
a thread opens
By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
from I John 3:16 · a strong link
For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, so that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit:
from Romans 5:8 · a strong link
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
from I Peter 3:18
a thread opens
But the anointing which you have received of him remains in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall remain in him.
As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him:
from I John 2:27
He who says that he remains in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
from Colossians 2:6
Whoever remains in him sins not: whoever sins has not seen him, neither known him.
from I John 2:6
Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
from I John 3:6 · a strong link
Being born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, by the word of God, which lives and remains for ever.
from I John 3:9 · a strong link
It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life.
from I Peter 1:23
a thread opens
And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, varieties of tongues.
Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.
from I Corinthians 12:28
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.
from Acts 20:28
Let the one who is taught in the word share with the one who teaches in all good things.
from I Timothy 5:17
Nor pouch for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet poles: for the workman is worthy of his food.
from Galatians 6:6
And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
from Matthew 10:10
a thread opens
I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, who are present here, to offer willingly to you.
And you, Solomon my son, know you the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever.
from I Chronicles 29:17 · a strong link
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
from I Chronicles 28:9 · a strong link
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,
from Hebrews 10:38
And with all wicked deception in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, so that they might be saved.
from Hebrews 10:26
a thread opens
Clean out therefore the old leaven, so that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:
The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
from I Corinthians 5:7
And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden bowls full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.
from John 1:29 · a strong link
And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Genesis 10:10 along this chain. Today’s own vigil is laid separately.
Each verse follows the one before it along the chain a study Bible draws — a century old, public, and compiled by people arguing about Scripture rather than about how long you stay. Every card says which verse it came from and opens the chapter it belongs to. Today’s vigil is the same for every reader and is worked out from the date alone, so there is no account, no counter, and nothing stored in your browser or ours.
The text is the Lantern Modern Standard. The links are openbible.info’s cross-reference set (CC BY), the same apparatus behind the reader’s Echoes drawer. Read a whole book · Today’s table