So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17
The Greek word Paul chose for new in this verse is kainos referencing a new creation that has not existed previously. This has greater implications than if Paul had instead used neos, meaning new in an already established category.
This biblical concept of kainos new is a pillar of Christian doctrine. Since God is about the work of making us new every day, we are transformed throughout our lives into a new creation, continuously growing in our resemblance to the one we follow, Jesus Christ. Evidence of this transformation can be found in our words, attitudes, actions and lifestyle.
One way that we open ourselves to experience kainos new is by practicing the spiritual discipline of reading Scripture. This is because we encounter God in the pages of Scripture. And each time we meet the living God, we are changed.
With that in mind, I invite you, the Holston Conference, to join me in reading through the Bible together individually and collectively in 2025. As we participate in “Read Together” in community, we open ourselves to experience God's presence and kainos on an individual basis and as a conference.
- Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett
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April 25, 2025 2 Kings 1-3, Psalm 72 (NRSV) 2 Reyes 1-3, Salmos 72 (RVR1960) Elijah Denounces Ahaziah 1 After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel. 2 Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria and was injured, ...
April 24, 2025 1 Kings 21-22, Psalm 71 (NRSV) 1 Reyes 21-22, Salmos 71 (RVR1960) Naboth’s Vineyard 21 Later the following events took place: Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. 2 And Ahab said ...
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April 23, 2025 1 Kings 19-20, Psalm 70 (NRSV) 1 Reyes 19-20, Salmos 70 (RVR1960) Elijah Flees from Jezebel 19 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to ...
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April 22, 2025 1 Kings 17-18, Psalms 68-69 (NRSV) 1 Reyes 17-18, Salmos 68-69 (RVR1960) Elijah Predicts a Drought 17 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall ...
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April 19, 2025 1 Kings 10-11, Psalm 66 (NRSV) 1 Reyes 10-11, Salmos 66 (RVR1960) Visit of the Queen of Sheba 10 When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon (fame due to the name of the Lord), she came to test him with riddles. 2 She came to...
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April 18, 2025 1 Kings 7-9, Psalm 65 (NRSV) 1 Reyes 7-9, Salmos 65 (RVR1960) Solomon’s Palace and Other Buildings 7 Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house. 2 He built the House of the Forest of the ...
April 17, 2025 1 Kings 4-6 (NRSV) 1 Reyes 4-6 (RVR1960) Solomon’s Administrative Officers 4 King Solomon was king over all Israel, 2 and these were his high officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest; 3 Elihoreph and Ahijah sons of Shisha were ...
April 16, 2025 1 Kings 1-3 (NRSV) 1 Reyes 1-3 (RVR1960) The Struggle for the Succession 1 King David was old and advanced in years, and although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm. 2 So his servants said to him, “Let a young virgin...
April 15, 2025 2 Samuel 22-24, Psalm 64 (NRSV) 2 Samuel 22-24, Salmos 64 (RVR1960) David’s Song of Thanksgiving 22 David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the ...
April 14, 2025 2 Samuel 19-21 (NRSV) 2 Samuel 19-21 (RVR1960) 19 It was told Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops, for the troops heard that day, “The king is ...
April 13, 2025 2 Samuel 16-18 (NRSV) 2 Samuel 16-18 (RVR1960) David’s Adversaries 16 When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, carrying two hundred loaves of bread, ...
April 12, 2025 2 Samuel 13-15 (NRSV) 2 Samuel 13-15 (RVR1960) Amnon and Tamar 13 Some time passed. David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and David’s son Amnon fell in love with her. 2 Amnon was so tormented that he made ...
April 11, 2025 2 Samuel 10-12, Psalm 63 (NRSV) 2 Samuel 10-12, Salmos 63 (RVR1960) The Ammonites and Arameans Are Defeated 10 Some time afterward, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him. 2 David said, “I will deal loyally ...
April 10, 2025 2 Samuel 7-9 (NRSV) 2 Samuel 7-9 (RVR1960) God’s Covenant with David 7 Now when the king was settled in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am ...
April 9, 2025 2 Samuel 4-6 (NRSV) 2 Samuel 4-6 (RVR1960) Ishbaal Assassinated 4 When Saul’s son Ishbaal heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed. 2 Saul’s son had two captains of raiding bands; the name of...
April 8, 2025 2 Samuel 1-3, Psalm 62 (NRSV) 2 Samuel 1-3, Salmos 62 (RVR1960) David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan 1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2 On the third day,...
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April 7, 2025 1 Samuel 29-31 (NRSV) 1 Samuel 29-31 (RVR1960) The Philistines Reject David 29 Now the Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, while the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. 2 As the lords of the ...
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April 6, 2025 1 Samuel 26-28 (NRSV) 1 Samuel 26-28 (RVR1960) David Spares Saul’s Life a Second Time 26 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “David is in hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon.” 2 So Saul rose and ...
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April 5, 2025 1 Samuel 23-25 (NRSV) 1 Samuel 23-25 (RVR1960) David Saves the City of Keilah 23 Now they told David, “The Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” 2 David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and ...
April 4, 2025 1 Samuel 19-22 (NRSV) 1 Samuel 19-22 (RVR1960) Jonathan Intercedes for David 19 Saul spoke with his son Jonathan and with all his servants about killing David. But Saul’s son Jonathan took great delight in David. 2 Jonathan told David,...
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April 2, 2025 1 Samuel 13-15 (NRSV) 1 Samuel 13-15 (RVR1960) Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice 13 Saul was . . . years old when he began to reign, and he reigned . . . and two years over Israel. 2 Saul chose three thousand out of Israel; two thousand were ...
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April 3, 2025 1 Samuel 16-18 (NRSV) 1 Samuel 16-18 (RVR1960) David Anointed as King 16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send ...
April 1, 2025 1 Samuel 10-12, Psalm 61 (NRSV) 1 Samuel 10-12, Salmos 61 (RVR1960) 10 1 Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him; he said, “The Lord has anointed you ruler over his people Israel. You shall reign over the ...
March 30, 2025 1 Samuel 4-6 (NRSV) 1 Samuel 4-6 (RVR1960) 4 1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. The Ark of God Captured In those days the Philistines mustered for war against Israel, and Israel went out to battle against them; they ...
March 31, 2025 1 Samuel 7-9 (NRSV) 1 Samuel 7-9 (RVR1960) 7 1 And the people of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. They consecrated his son, Eleazar, to have charge of the ark of ...