a thread opens
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
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 to the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things says the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
from John 1:1 · a strong link
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, who is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
from Revelation of John 1:8 · a strong link
Who has worked and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask your father, and he will show you; your elders, and they will tell you.
from Isaiah 41:4
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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 the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
from I Corinthians 8:4
Produce your cause, says the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, says the King of Jacob.
from Isaiah 44:6 · a strong link
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
from Isaiah 41:21
Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
from Job 23:3
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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.
Who have for my life laid down their own necks: to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
from I John 3:16
And it happened, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the warriors which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.
from Romans 16:4
A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord, Sit you at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.
from Joshua 10:24
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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.
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
For I have given you an example, so that you should do as I have done to you.
from I John 2:6 · a strong link
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls.
from John 13:15
(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men who were upon the face of the earth.)
from Matthew 11:29
I have become a fool in glorying; you have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you: for in nothing am I behind the super-apostles, though I be nothing.
from Numbers 12:3
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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.
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone;
from I Corinthians 12:28
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Look, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believes will not panic.
from Ephesians 2:20 · a strong link
Therefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Look, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be put to shame.
from Isaiah 28:16 · a strong link
Look, my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.
from I Peter 2:6
For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure to him.
from Matthew 12:18
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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.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and says of him, Look, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
from I Chronicles 29:17
Blessed is the man to whom the LORD imputes not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
from John 1:47
And brings it not to the door of the tent of meeting, to offer an offering to the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed to that man; he has shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
from Psalms 32:2
And the uncircumcised male whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.
from Leviticus 17:4
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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:
But God judges those outside. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
from I Corinthians 5:7
Then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she has committed folly in Israel, to play the prostitute in her father’s house: so shall you put evil away from among you.
from I Corinthians 5:13
And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the prostitute, she profanes her father: she shall be burnt with fire.
from Deuteronomy 22:21
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from John 1:1 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