Pat Conlin

Exegetical thoughts

I'm memorizing the book of Philippians, and in doing so I find myself asking Paul questions.  "Wouldn't it be easier to memorize this verse if he always said either Christ, or Jesus, or Jesus Christ,…

Philippians 1:2 (ESV)

Matthias Replaces Judas

It is so that my transgressions have borne a withered fruit The sun has scorched the rising plants, alas, they have no root. The bleached bones of animals, bound by leather strips, Dance through the air…

Acts 1:12 (KJV), Acts 1:13 (KJV), Acts 1:14 (KJV), Acts 1:15 (KJV), Acts 1:16 (KJV), Acts 1:17 (KJV), Acts 1:18 (KJV), Acts 1:19 (KJV), Acts 1:20 (KJV), Acts 1:21 (KJV), Acts 1:22 (KJV), Acts 1:23 (KJV), Acts 1:24 (KJV), Acts 1:25 (KJV), Acts 1:26 (KJV)

God is Lord of History and Prophecy

I was reading this today per the reading plan I'm on, and reflecting on the meaning of this. It's easy for me to get bogged down in these historical accounts and read them simply as stories. They are…

Deuteronomy 12:10 (ESV), Deuteronomy 12:11 (ESV), 2 Samuel 22:11 (ESV), 1 Kings 12:25 (ESV), 1 Kings 12:26 (ESV), 1 Kings 12:27 (ESV), 1 Kings 12:28 (ESV), 1 Kings 12:29 (ESV), 1 Kings 12:30 (ESV), 1 Kings 12:31 (ESV), 1 Kings 12:32 (ESV), 1 Kings 12:33 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:1 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:2 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:3 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:4 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:5 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:6 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:7 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:8 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:9 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:10 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:11 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:12 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:13 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:14 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:15 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:16 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:17 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:18 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:19 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:20 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:21 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:22 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:23 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:24 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:25 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:26 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:27 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:28 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:29 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:30 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:31 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:32 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:33 (ESV), 1 Kings 13:34 (ESV)

The Hallelujah Life

The last five Psalms make up a great doxology, or blessing to God. Each book of Psalms ends with a doxological verse or two, but the whole Psalter ends with five entire Psalms of praise. The phrase…

Psalm 146:1 (ESV), Psalm 146:2 (ESV), Psalm 146:3 (ESV), Psalm 146:4 (ESV), Psalm 146:5 (ESV), Psalm 146:6 (ESV), Psalm 146:7 (ESV), Psalm 146:8 (ESV), Psalm 146:9 (ESV), Psalm 146:10 (ESV), Psalm 147:1 (ESV), Psalm 147:2 (ESV), Psalm 147:3 (ESV), Psalm 147:4 (ESV), Psalm 147:5 (ESV), Psalm 147:6 (ESV), Psalm 147:7 (ESV), Psalm 147:8 (ESV), Psalm 147:9 (ESV), Psalm 147:10 (ESV), Psalm 147:11 (ESV), Psalm 147:12 (ESV), Psalm 147:13 (ESV), Psalm 147:14 (ESV), Psalm 147:15 (ESV), Psalm 147:16 (ESV), Psalm 147:17 (ESV), Psalm 147:18 (ESV), Psalm 147:19 (ESV), Psalm 147:20 (ESV), Psalm 148:1 (ESV), Psalm 148:2 (ESV), Psalm 148:3 (ESV), Psalm 148:4 (ESV), Psalm 148:5 (ESV), Psalm 148:6 (ESV), Psalm 148:7 (ESV), Psalm 148:8 (ESV), Psalm 148:9 (ESV), Psalm 148:10 (ESV), Psalm 148:11 (ESV), Psalm 148:12 (ESV), Psalm 148:13 (ESV), Psalm 148:14 (ESV), Psalm 149:1 (ESV), Psalm 149:2 (ESV), Psalm 149:3 (ESV), Psalm 149:4 (ESV), Psalm 149:5 (ESV), Psalm 149:6 (ESV), Psalm 149:7 (ESV), Psalm 149:8 (ESV), Psalm 149:9 (ESV), Psalm 150:1 (ESV), Psalm 150:2 (ESV), Psalm 150:3 (ESV), Psalm 150:4 (ESV), Psalm 150:5 (ESV), Psalm 150:6 (ESV)

SOAP Numbers 35, 36

S. Numbers 35 & 36 O. Honestly, my first thought with chapter 35 is: BORING. I know that's not the "right" thing to say, but I will admit it. I don't think in cubits, I don't know any Levites, I've been…

Numbers 35:1 (ESV), Numbers 35:2 (ESV), Numbers 35:3 (ESV), Numbers 35:4 (ESV), Numbers 35:5 (ESV), Numbers 35:6 (ESV), Numbers 35:7 (ESV), Numbers 35:8 (ESV), Numbers 35:9 (ESV), Numbers 35:10 (ESV), Numbers 35:11 (ESV), Numbers 35:12 (ESV), Numbers 35:13 (ESV), Numbers 35:14 (ESV), Numbers 35:15 (ESV), Numbers 35:16 (ESV), Numbers 35:17 (ESV), Numbers 35:18 (ESV), Numbers 35:19 (ESV), Numbers 35:20 (ESV), Numbers 35:21 (ESV), Numbers 35:22 (ESV), Numbers 35:23 (ESV), Numbers 35:24 (ESV), Numbers 35:25 (ESV), Numbers 35:26 (ESV), Numbers 35:27 (ESV), Numbers 35:28 (ESV), Numbers 35:29 (ESV), Numbers 35:30 (ESV), Numbers 35:31 (ESV), Numbers 35:32 (ESV), Numbers 35:33 (ESV), Numbers 35:34 (ESV), Numbers 36:1 (ESV), Numbers 36:2 (ESV), Numbers 36:3 (ESV), Numbers 36:4 (ESV), Numbers 36:5 (ESV), Numbers 36:6 (ESV), Numbers 36:7 (ESV), Numbers 36:8 (ESV), Numbers 36:9 (ESV), Numbers 36:10 (ESV), Numbers 36:11 (ESV), Numbers 36:12 (ESV), Numbers 36:13 (ESV)

SOAP Exodus 13-15

S.Exodus 13-15 O.Living in Chicago, I have another snow day today (at least from school - work is still on), so my first inclination was to dig into commentaries, dictionaries, atlases, and really break…

Exodus 13:1 (ESV), Exodus 13:2 (ESV), Exodus 13:3 (ESV), Exodus 13:4 (ESV), Exodus 13:5 (ESV), Exodus 13:6 (ESV), Exodus 13:7 (ESV), Exodus 13:8 (ESV), Exodus 13:9 (ESV), Exodus 13:10 (ESV), Exodus 13:11 (ESV), Exodus 13:12 (ESV), Exodus 13:13 (ESV), Exodus 13:14 (ESV), Exodus 13:15 (ESV), Exodus 13:16 (ESV), Exodus 13:17 (ESV), Exodus 13:18 (ESV), Exodus 13:19 (ESV), Exodus 13:20 (ESV), Exodus 13:21 (ESV), Exodus 13:22 (ESV), Exodus 14:1 (ESV), Exodus 14:2 (ESV), Exodus 14:3 (ESV), Exodus 14:4 (ESV), Exodus 14:5 (ESV), Exodus 14:6 (ESV), Exodus 14:7 (ESV), Exodus 14:8 (ESV), Exodus 14:9 (ESV), Exodus 14:10 (ESV), Exodus 14:11 (ESV), Exodus 14:12 (ESV), Exodus 14:13 (ESV), Exodus 14:14 (ESV), Exodus 14:15 (ESV), Exodus 14:16 (ESV), Exodus 14:17 (ESV), Exodus 14:18 (ESV), Exodus 14:19 (ESV), Exodus 14:20 (ESV), Exodus 14:21 (ESV), Exodus 14:22 (ESV), Exodus 14:23 (ESV), Exodus 14:24 (ESV), Exodus 14:25 (ESV), Exodus 14:26 (ESV), Exodus 14:27 (ESV), Exodus 14:28 (ESV), Exodus 14:29 (ESV), Exodus 14:30 (ESV), Exodus 14:31 (ESV), Exodus 15:1 (ESV), Exodus 15:2 (ESV), Exodus 15:3 (ESV), Exodus 15:4 (ESV), Exodus 15:5 (ESV), Exodus 15:6 (ESV), Exodus 15:7 (ESV), Exodus 15:8 (ESV), Exodus 15:9 (ESV), Exodus 15:10 (ESV), Exodus 15:11 (ESV), Exodus 15:12 (ESV), Exodus 15:13 (ESV), Exodus 15:14 (ESV), Exodus 15:15 (ESV), Exodus 15:16 (ESV), Exodus 15:17 (ESV), Exodus 15:18 (ESV), Exodus 15:19 (ESV), Exodus 15:20 (ESV), Exodus 15:21 (ESV), Exodus 15:22 (ESV), Exodus 15:23 (ESV), Exodus 15:24 (ESV), Exodus 15:25 (ESV), Exodus 15:26 (ESV), Exodus 15:27 (ESV)

SOAP Exodus 10-12

S.Exodus 10-12 O.Chapter 10 is basically a conclusion of the cycle of Moses and Aaron asking for Israel's freedom, being denied, plague, Pharaoh's false repentance, Pharaoh's change of heart. The one…

Exodus 10:1 (ESV), Exodus 10:2 (ESV), Exodus 10:3 (ESV), Exodus 10:4 (ESV), Exodus 10:5 (ESV), Exodus 10:6 (ESV), Exodus 10:7 (ESV), Exodus 10:8 (ESV), Exodus 10:9 (ESV), Exodus 10:10 (ESV), Exodus 10:11 (ESV), Exodus 10:12 (ESV), Exodus 10:13 (ESV), Exodus 10:14 (ESV), Exodus 10:15 (ESV), Exodus 10:16 (ESV), Exodus 10:17 (ESV), Exodus 10:18 (ESV), Exodus 10:19 (ESV), Exodus 10:20 (ESV), Exodus 10:21 (ESV), Exodus 10:22 (ESV), Exodus 10:23 (ESV), Exodus 10:24 (ESV), Exodus 10:25 (ESV), Exodus 10:26 (ESV), Exodus 10:27 (ESV), Exodus 10:28 (ESV), Exodus 10:29 (ESV), Exodus 11:1 (ESV), Exodus 11:2 (ESV), Exodus 11:3 (ESV), Exodus 11:4 (ESV), Exodus 11:5 (ESV), Exodus 11:6 (ESV), Exodus 11:7 (ESV), Exodus 11:8 (ESV), Exodus 11:9 (ESV), Exodus 11:10 (ESV), Exodus 12:1 (ESV), Exodus 12:2 (ESV), Exodus 12:3 (ESV), Exodus 12:4 (ESV), Exodus 12:5 (ESV), Exodus 12:6 (ESV), Exodus 12:7 (ESV), Exodus 12:8 (ESV), Exodus 12:9 (ESV), Exodus 12:10 (ESV), Exodus 12:11 (ESV), Exodus 12:12 (ESV), Exodus 12:13 (ESV), Exodus 12:14 (ESV), Exodus 12:15 (ESV), Exodus 12:16 (ESV), Exodus 12:17 (ESV), Exodus 12:18 (ESV), Exodus 12:19 (ESV), Exodus 12:20 (ESV), Exodus 12:21 (ESV), Exodus 12:22 (ESV), Exodus 12:23 (ESV), Exodus 12:24 (ESV), Exodus 12:25 (ESV), Exodus 12:26 (ESV), Exodus 12:27 (ESV), Exodus 12:28 (ESV), Exodus 12:29 (ESV), Exodus 12:30 (ESV), Exodus 12:31 (ESV), Exodus 12:32 (ESV), Exodus 12:33 (ESV), Exodus 12:34 (ESV), Exodus 12:35 (ESV), Exodus 12:36 (ESV), Exodus 12:37 (ESV), Exodus 12:38 (ESV), Exodus 12:39 (ESV), Exodus 12:40 (ESV), Exodus 12:41 (ESV), Exodus 12:42 (ESV), Exodus 12:43 (ESV), Exodus 12:44 (ESV), Exodus 12:45 (ESV), Exodus 12:46 (ESV), Exodus 12:47 (ESV), Exodus 12:48 (ESV), Exodus 12:49 (ESV), Exodus 12:50 (ESV), Exodus 12:51 (ESV)

Exodus 7-9 SOAP

I want to get back on track with my notes and thoughts about my daily reading. I want to be able to tackle the entire reading for the day and hopefully come up with a "big picture" interpretation instead…

Exodus 7:1 (ESV), Exodus 7:2 (ESV), Exodus 7:3 (ESV), Exodus 7:4 (ESV), Exodus 7:5 (ESV), Exodus 7:6 (ESV), Exodus 7:7 (ESV), Exodus 7:8 (ESV), Exodus 7:9 (ESV), Exodus 7:10 (ESV), Exodus 7:11 (ESV), Exodus 7:12 (ESV), Exodus 7:13 (ESV), Exodus 7:14 (ESV), Exodus 7:15 (ESV), Exodus 7:16 (ESV), Exodus 7:17 (ESV), Exodus 7:18 (ESV), Exodus 7:19 (ESV), Exodus 7:20 (ESV), Exodus 7:21 (ESV), Exodus 7:22 (ESV), Exodus 7:23 (ESV), Exodus 7:24 (ESV), Exodus 7:25 (ESV), Exodus 8:1 (ESV), Exodus 8:2 (ESV), Exodus 8:3 (ESV), Exodus 8:4 (ESV), Exodus 8:5 (ESV), Exodus 8:6 (ESV), Exodus 8:7 (ESV), Exodus 8:8 (ESV), Exodus 8:9 (ESV), Exodus 8:10 (ESV), Exodus 8:11 (ESV), Exodus 8:12 (ESV), Exodus 8:13 (ESV), Exodus 8:14 (ESV), Exodus 8:15 (ESV), Exodus 8:16 (ESV), Exodus 8:17 (ESV), Exodus 8:18 (ESV), Exodus 8:19 (ESV), Exodus 8:20 (ESV), Exodus 8:21 (ESV), Exodus 8:22 (ESV), Exodus 8:23 (ESV), Exodus 8:24 (ESV), Exodus 8:25 (ESV), Exodus 8:26 (ESV), Exodus 8:27 (ESV), Exodus 8:28 (ESV), Exodus 8:29 (ESV), Exodus 8:30 (ESV), Exodus 8:31 (ESV), Exodus 8:32 (ESV), Exodus 9:1 (ESV), Exodus 9:2 (ESV), Exodus 9:3 (ESV), Exodus 9:4 (ESV), Exodus 9:5 (ESV), Exodus 9:6 (ESV), Exodus 9:7 (ESV), Exodus 9:8 (ESV), Exodus 9:9 (ESV), Exodus 9:10 (ESV), Exodus 9:11 (ESV), Exodus 9:12 (ESV), Exodus 9:13 (ESV), Exodus 9:14 (ESV), Exodus 9:15 (ESV), Exodus 9:16 (ESV), Exodus 9:17 (ESV), Exodus 9:18 (ESV), Exodus 9:19 (ESV), Exodus 9:20 (ESV), Exodus 9:21 (ESV), Exodus 9:22 (ESV), Exodus 9:23 (ESV), Exodus 9:24 (ESV), Exodus 9:25 (ESV), Exodus 9:26 (ESV), Exodus 9:27 (ESV), Exodus 9:28 (ESV), Exodus 9:29 (ESV), Exodus 9:30 (ESV), Exodus 9:31 (ESV), Exodus 9:32 (ESV), Exodus 9:33 (ESV), Exodus 9:34 (ESV), Exodus 9:35 (ESV)

My Chronological Journal - day 21

I've missed a few days of doing this. I'm back in school now and it's been difficult to find time to type this out, and I realized I set a lofty goal for myself with journaling in-depth on a passage everyday…

Genesis 25:23 (ESV), Genesis 25:29 (ESV), Genesis 25:30 (ESV), Genesis 25:31 (ESV), Genesis 25:32 (ESV), Genesis 25:33 (ESV), Genesis 25:34 (ESV), Genesis 27:35 (ESV), Genesis 27:36 (ESV)

My Chronological Journal - Day 17

Ok, I'm feeling much better. Thanks for anyone who happened to pray for me. It did make a difference, especially in my spirit. Anyway, I noticed something for the first time here. I knew Abraham was counted…

My Chronological Journal - Day 16

I'm feeling a bit better today, praise God. I'm home today for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and I just want to take a minute to praise God for the great work He inspired and empowered that man to do.…

Genesis 15:1 (ESV), Genesis 15:2 (ESV), Genesis 15:3 (ESV), Genesis 15:4 (ESV), Genesis 15:5 (ESV), Genesis 15:6 (ESV), Genesis 15:7 (ESV), Genesis 15:8 (ESV), Genesis 15:9 (ESV), Genesis 15:10 (ESV), Genesis 15:11 (ESV), Genesis 15:12 (ESV), Genesis 15:13 (ESV), Genesis 15:14 (ESV), Genesis 15:15 (ESV), Genesis 15:16 (ESV), Genesis 15:17 (ESV), Genesis 15:18 (ESV), Genesis 15:19 (ESV), Genesis 15:20 (ESV), Genesis 15:21 (ESV)

my chronological journal - day 15

I'm sick = short note. I just noticed how God said Job spoke right of Him although He spent the last 4 or 5 chapters humbling Job. I just though that's really interesting. Maybe someone better than I…

Job 42:7 (ESV)

My Chronological Journal - day 14

I'm not feeling that well, so this is going to be short. God notices animals. We should too. I'm not saying to go PETA for Christ, animal rights is a bit of a stretch. Animal welfare is more sound in…

Job 39:1 (ESV), Job 39:5 (ESV), Job 39:9 (ESV), Job 39:13 (ESV), Job 39:19 (ESV), Job 39:26 (ESV)

My Chronological Journey - day 13

This chapter really opened up my eyes in regard to the whole book of Job. I've read it before, but I was never really satisfied with the ending. God shows up, humbles Job, replaces his dead kids, the…

Job 36:15 (ESV)

My Chronological Journal - day 12

Elihu has some good words for Job and for us here. After he briefly dismisses Job's claims of innocence he goes into the ways God speaks to man. I wish he elaborated more on why Job isn't righteous, because…

Job 33:13 (ESV), Job 33:14 (ESV), Job 33:15 (ESV), Job 33:16 (ESV), Job 33:17 (ESV), Job 33:18 (ESV), Job 33:19 (ESV), Job 33:20 (ESV), Job 33:21 (ESV), Job 33:22 (ESV), Job 33:23 (ESV), Job 33:24 (ESV), Job 33:25 (ESV), Job 33:26 (ESV), Job 33:27 (ESV), Job 33:28 (ESV), Job 33:29 (ESV), Job 33:30 (ESV)

My Chronological journal - day 11

This chapter is rich with exhortative possibilities. We should take note of every verse and ask ourselves, "Could we say the same of ourselves?" I don't think Job meant literally many of the things he…

Job 31:1 (ESV), Job 31:9 (ESV), Job 31:10 (ESV), Job 31:11 (ESV), Job 31:12 (ESV)

My Chronological journal - day 10

I was really tempted to just write on chapter 25 and basically agree with Bildad completely. His short speech relates to the total depravity of man. It sounds like sound teaching to me, but yet I see…

Job 27:3 (NLT), Job 27:4 (NLT), Job 27:5 (NLT), Job 27:6 (NLT)

My Chronological Journal - day 9

It seems like with each round of speeches and responses from Job and his friends, they just repeat what they've already said, but at a louder volume. Job maintains his innocence, and tries to concede…

Job 23:14 (NLT), Job 23:15 (NLT), Job 23:16 (NLT)

My Chronological Journal - day 8

This seems an easy choice of verses to meditate on. In fact I was singing the song earlier today in the car. But then again... It's easy to take these 5 verses out of the whole book and turn them into…

Job 19:22 (ESV), Job 19:23 (ESV), Job 19:24 (ESV), Job 19:25 (ESV), Job 19:26 (ESV), Job 19:27 (ESV)

My Journal - day 7

I know some people actually read this and I am really grateful for that. I'm not really going to try and exegete or even share my thoughts on what I read today though. My mind is elsewhere. My fiancee's…

Job 14:1 (NLT), Job 14:2 (NLT)

My journal - day 6

Job's charge against his friends here speaks to me. Do I come up with excuses for God? Yes! It's not really when I'm defending my faith - I like to think that there actually are answers to some of…

Job 13:7 (ESV), Job 13:8 (ESV), Job 13:11 (ESV), Job 13:12 (ESV)

My Journal - day 5

Can I just be honest here and say that most translations of Job are really hard to read and comprehend? What's up with that? I'm no slouch when it comes to reading comprehension, but I got much more out…

Job 9:30 (ESV), Job 9:31 (ESV), Job 9:32 (ESV), Job 9:33 (ESV), Job 9:34 (ESV), Job 9:35 (ESV)

My journal - day 4

I wanted to tackle the exchanges between God and Satan in Job 1 and 2, but I just don't feel up to that much interpretation right now. It's been a stressful day, so I figured I'd sympathize with Job.…

Job 3:1 (ESV)

My journal - Day 3

This story has always bugged me a bit. It always struck me as a myth in the vein of "Why the crocodile has scales" or some such folk tale. But I was reminded of a story regarding J.R.R. Tolkein and…

Genesis 11:1 (ESV), Genesis 11:2 (ESV), Genesis 11:3 (ESV), Genesis 11:4 (ESV), Genesis 11:5 (ESV), Genesis 11:6 (ESV), Genesis 11:7 (ESV), Genesis 11:8 (ESV), Genesis 11:9 (ESV)

My journal - day 2

Reading Lamech's optimistic blessing on his son Noah, I can't help but feel the sense of literary irony that is so often overlooked in the Bible. There are elements of comedy in Scripture! Granted it's…

Genesis 5:28 (ESV), Genesis 5:29 (ESV), Genesis 5:30 (ESV), Genesis 5:31 (ESV), Genesis 6:7 (ESV), Genesis 6:18 (ESV), Genesis 6:19 (ESV), Genesis 6:20 (ESV), Genesis 6:21 (ESV), Genesis 6:22 (ESV)