October 2025 Reflections
Start Strong releases January 9. 5 New podcast episodes. 4 New Bible Study Resources. September 25 news from Wednesday in the Word.
How to Use Bible Background
Background is your flashlight, not your steering wheel. Use it to illuminate the author’s path. Then keep walking where the paragraph leads
16 Thorn in the Flesh: How to Embrace Weakness (2 Corinthians 11)
What was Paul’s thorn in the flesh and why didn’t God remove it? Discover how weakness can reveal God’s power and reframe your own struggles.
How to Transform your Bible Study with an Outline
An analytical outline is a way of displaying a text of Scripture so that the flow of thought and the relationship between the grammatical parts become clear. It is my favorite study tool and one of the first things I do. Learn how to make one.
How to Use Commentaries
How to Use Commentaries wisely: when to open them, which ones to read, and how to compare, without replacing your own study.
15 False Apostles: Why Were They So Convincing? (2 Corinthians 11)
Paul confronts the false apostles and reveals what true gospel leadership looks like. Learn how to spot deception and follow the real thing.
How to Study Psalms & Proverbs
How to Study Psalms & Proverbs made simple. Spot parallelism, read in stanzas, and apply God’s wisdom with simple, clear steps.
14 How To Confront With the Meekness of Christ (2 Corinthians 10)
Explore the Meekness of Christ in 2 Corinthians 10. Paul confronts false claims with truth and God’s power, using authority that builds.
How to Cross Reference
Learn how to cross reference Scripture with a simple method: start near, test relevance, and let clear verses explain hard ones. Tools, examples, FAQs.
13 Cheerful Giver: How to Sow for a Lasting Harvest (2 Corinthians 8-9)
Explore why Paul calls us to be a Cheerful Giver, how generosity reveals faith, heals division, and reflects God’s grace in 2 Corinthians 8–9.
How to Study Epistles
Learn a simple six-step method to study New Testament epistles: trace arguments, define key terms, and apply Scripture with confidence. Free checklist.
12 Why Gentiles Gave to Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8-9 Background)
Paul devoted more than a decade of his ministry to the Jerusalem Collection. Understanding the story behind it helps us understand 2 Corinthians 8-9. Today we’ll explore the origin, purpose, and implications of the Jerusalem Collection, using events in Acts and Galatians to trace the evolving relationship between Paul, the Jerusalem apostles, and the Gentile churches.
About the Author
Krisan Marotta is a Bible teacher and host of Wednesday in the Word, the podcast about what the Bible means and how we know.