a thread opens
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their gift.
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.
Listen, my beloved brothers, Has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them that love him?
from II Corinthians 8:2
So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
from James 2:5 · a strong link
Israel is an empty vine, he brings forth fruit to himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he has increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made fine images.
from Luke 12:21
Now will I sing to my beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My beloved has a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
from Hosea 10:1
Yet I had planted you a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then are you turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine to me?
from Isaiah 5:1
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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.
Thus says the LORD, your redeemer, and he that formed you from the womb, I am the LORD that makes all things; that stretches forth the heavens alone; that spreads abroad the earth by myself;
from I Corinthians 8:4
And forget the LORD your maker, that has stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and have feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
from Isaiah 44:24
It is he that sits upon the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are as grasshoppers; that stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in:
from Isaiah 51:13
Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
from Isaiah 40:22
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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.
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. To him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
from I John 3:16 · a strong link
Jesus answered them, Though I bear witness of myself, yet my record is true: for I know where I came from, and where I go; but you cannot tell where I come from, and where I go.
I came forth from the Father, and have come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
from John 8:14 · a strong link
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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.
Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it remain in the vine; no more can you, except you remain in me.
from I John 2:27
Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not know your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates?
from John 15:4
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unfit for any good work.
from II Corinthians 13:5
Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
from Titus 1:16
And Jesus answered them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
from Ephesians 5:6 · a strong link
And he said, Take heed that you do not be deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draws near: do not go therefore after them.
from Matthew 24:4
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.
Greet all your leaders, and all the saints. They of Italy greet you.
from I Corinthians 12:28 · a strong link
Obey your leaders, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
from Hebrews 13:24 · a strong link
That you submit yourselves to such, and to every one that helps with us, and labors.
from Hebrews 13:17
And we beg you, brothers, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
from I Corinthians 16:16 · a strong link
Remember your leaders, who have spoken to you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conduct.
from I Thessalonians 5:12
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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.
For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart.
from I Chronicles 29:17
Being born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, by the word of God, which lives and remains for ever.
from Hebrews 4:12 · a strong link
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 Peter 1:23
If you know that he is righteous, you know that every one that does righteousness is born of him.
from I John 3:9 · a strong link
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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:
And I saw, and, look, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
from I Corinthians 5:7
John to the seven churches in Asia: Grace be to you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits before his throne;
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things says he who is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from II Corinthians 8:2 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