peace to live by

The Oldest Manuscripts the Most Accurate? (TMF:2925)

Friday, July 24, 2026
Peace to Live By: The Oldest Manuscripts the Most Accurate? (TMF:2925) - Daniel Litton
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       One reason for this belief is that supposedly the earliest manuscripts don’t include the city of Ephesus in the beginning of the letter. Of course, care needs to be taken in accepting that, because it has also been purposed that some of the earlier manuscripts that we have were actually Gnostic manuscripts, and may be corrupted to some degree. And it is then argued that this is why the King James Version would be a more accurate translation because it doesn’t rely in anyway on those earlier manuscripts. This has not be personally studied, but it does sound like it could be possible. Seems a reasonable assumption the Gnostics would have corrupted the very Scriptures themselves, and remember, that just because something is the oldest doesn’t necessary mean that it’s the most accurate. And, what if the Spirit of God wanted something added before the “inspiration” of the document was closed? Ever think about that?

Was the Laodicea Letter Really Ephesians? (TMF:2924)

Thursday, July 23, 2026
Peace to Live By: Was the Laodicea Letter Really Ephesians? (TMF:2924) - Daniel Litton
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       Regardless, Paul mentions a letter from Laodicea, and that the Colossians should also read that letter. Obviously, this is a letter that’s not in the Bible, not in the New Testament canon. So, even if we had it, it wouldn’t be inspired from the Spirit of God, but certainly would be interesting. Surprisingly, some theologians seem to think that this letter might actually already be in our Bibles. That is, some think that this letter from Laodicea that Paul is referring to is Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, and that it was a circulating letter that just happened to be currently in Laodicea. One reason for this belief is that supposedly the earliest manuscripts don’t include the city of Ephesus in the beginning of the letter. Of course, care needs to be taken in accepting that, because it has also been purposed that some of the earlier manuscripts that we have were actually Gnostic manuscripts, and may be corrupted to some degree. And it is then argued that this is why the King James Version would be a more accurate translation.

Reading Colossians in a Public Way, Part 2 (TMF:2923)

Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Peace to Live By: Reading Colossians in a Public Way, Part 2 (TMF:2923) - Daniel Litton
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       But it definitely seems to shed new light on a Biblical book when it is read out loud, or in our case in present day to listen to an audio version of the book. When it is heard out loud, it seems to sometimes change the way the information is interrupted. One thing for sure is that it brings a greater collective or communal vibe over the text rather than that individual vibe we are very used to in reading the text over and over to ourselves. Interestingly, the speaker came across an interesting piece of information lately (and it’s not recalled from where) that said the personal reading of documents is more of a modern thing, say in the last several hundred years. The personal reading of documents doesn’t appear to have existed much at all in prior times, but that most documents were read publicly. Pretty interesting that is, and something that folks might want to look into on their own time. Regardless, Paul mentions a letter from Laodicea, and that the Colossians should also read that letter. Obviously, this is a letter that’s not in the Bible, not in the New Testament canon.

Reading Colossians in a Public Way, Part 1 (TMF:2922)

Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Peace to Live By: Reading Colossians in a Public Way, Part 1 (TMF:2922) - Daniel Litton
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       Verse 16: “And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea” (ESV). A couple of points can be noted. The first is that it would appear that this letter Paul is sending to the Colossians is to be read publicly before the church, much like a sermon is delivered. It could also be the case that the letter would be passed around one on one and read by the members. That’s possible, and probably did happen to come degree. We are a little less familiar, it would seem, to having the public reading of a letter in our day and age. In 1700 and 1800s America, it probably would have been a more common occurrence. We are familiar with people standing up and reading prepared statements, but that’s probably about as close as it gets for us. Those are usually short. But it definitely seems to shed new light on a Biblical book when it is read out loud, or in our case in present day to listen to an audio version of the book.

Nympha, & The Church in Her House (TMF:2921)

Monday, July 20, 2026
Peace to Live By: Nympha, & The Church in Her House (TMF:2921) - Daniel Litton
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       Unfortunately, we don’t know anything about Nympha other than that they were an off-shoot of the Colossae church which met in her house. Probably good times being so close-knit. It doesn’t seem reasonable, in our context of this Letter from Paul to the Colossians, to suggest that Nympha was the leader, or head pastor of the church. We know that elsewhere, specifically to Timothy and also to the Corinthians, that God guided Paul to prohibit women from teaching, and this would probably count for any leadership role that would have authority over men or lead to standing in front of men to give an account. We also know, and this as been touched upon in the past, the God certainly appears to call women to be Bible teachers and to leadership roles in our day and age, and at least in America and western societies. This is an interesting contrast, but it is one that is experientially true. For the speaker himself has benefited greatly from specifically a couple women teachers in his lifetime thus far.

Holding in Mind the Close By Church (TMF:2920)

Friday, July 17, 2026
Peace to Live By: Holding in Mind the Close By Church (TMF:2920) - Daniel Litton
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       The reason Paul could tell the Colossians to give his greetings to the church members in Laodicea was because the city of Laodicea was close by, a neighboring city around nine miles from the city of Colossae. As Paul will say in the next verse, there is a reason for this. Nonetheless, it appears also that in addition to the church in Laodicea that there was another church close by—likely not a competitor, or another denomination as might think today. Perhaps a church more in the countryside? That seems reasonable, and it could also explain the obviously lower numbers of attendees considering the believers met in the house of a woman named Nympha. Unfortunately, we don’t know anything about Nympha other than that they were an off-shoot of the Colossae church which met in her house. Probably good times being so close-knit. It doesn’t seem reasonable, in our context of this Letter from Paul to the Colossians, to suggest that Nympha was the leader, or head pastor of the church.

We Are Too Familiar with Traitors (TMF:2919)

Thursday, July 16, 2026
Peace to Live By: We Are Too Familiar with Traitors (TMF:2919) - Daniel Litton
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       Many of you can probably relate to someone who has been known to be a faithful brother or sister at one time but who then later in time turned out to not be that way. The speaker can bring to mind a woman who was known in the past that seemed to be very faithful, active in her own ministry, who later would go on to betray the church, and those she had worked alongside, in love with the present world, and would totally abandon everything, including her own family. And it broke the speaker’s heart, not to mention the hearts of countless others. Verse 15: “Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house” (ESV). The reason Paul could tell the Colossians to give his greetings to the church members in Laodicea was because the city of Laodicea was close by, a neighboring city around nine miles from the city of Colossae. As Paul will say in the next verse, there is a reason for this.

Demas- Kingdom Worker to Traitor (TMF:2918)

Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Peace to Live By: Demas- Kingdom Worker to Traitor (TMF:2918) - Daniel Litton
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       Anyhow, in moving along to Demas, he is noted as working in Paul’s group for the kingdom of God. He is also mentioned in Paul’s letter to Philemon as being a fellow worker (see Philemon 24, ESV). What probably comes to our minds, though, is what Paul would say in regards to him at the end of his life. If we look at 2 Timothy 4, starting in verse 9, Paul said to Timothy, “Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica” (ESV). So, Paul mentions Demas as a traitor. This goes to show the importance of what was being discussed a little bit ago in talking about Epaphras’ prayers for the church, and this obviously would have included church leaders and missionaries. Not to discourage—that’s not the point of this—but rather to show the importance of prayer. Most of Paul’s companions were likely actually faithful.

The Beloved Physician Luke, Part 2 (TMF:2917)

Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Peace to Live By: The Beloved Physician Luke, Part 2 (TMF:2917) - Daniel Litton
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       It is suspected that Paul had some kind of alignment that affected his eyes, remember, the one that the Lord didn’t heal him from, but he rather let it remain in him as it worked to remind Paul that he wasn’t invincible or some kind of Christian superhero. Perhaps Luke helped him with that alignment. Could be. Nonetheless, we can also note from this that Luke was likely a Gentile, because Paul said in verse 11, which we covered last week, he said in mentioning the three men before that that they were the only Jewish brothers with him. This would seem to denote that Luke was not Jewish, though, some argue that he truly was. Anyhow, in moving along to Demas, he is noted as working in Paul’s group for the kingdom of God. He is also mentioned in Paul’s letter to Philemon as being a fellow worker (see Philemon 24, ESV). What probably comes to our minds, though, is what Paul would say in regards to him at the end of his life.

The Beloved Physician Luke, Part 1 (TMF:2916)

Monday, July 13, 2026
Peace to Live By: The Beloved Physician Luke, Part 1 (TMF:2916) - Daniel Litton
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       Moving along. Verse 14: “Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas” (ESV). We spent last week discussing a good deal as pertains to Mark—who, we know—is the the Gospel writer of the book that bares his name, and Paul mentioned him in this letter to the Colossians in verse 10. Now we are presented with another famous Gospel writer, that of Luke. We are told that Luke is a “physician,” and this is the verse where this understanding pertaining to Luke comes from. It has even been suggested by some that Luke was actually Paul’s own physician who traveled with him for that very purpose, which may be the case. Hard to say for sure. It is suspected that Paul had some kind of alignment that affected his eyes, remember, the one that the Lord didn’t heal him from, but he rather let it remain in him as it worked to remind Paul that he wasn’t invincible or some kind of Christian superhero. Perhaps Luke helped him with that alignment. Could be.