Starlight Book Review – Epistles of John

Image representing the Epistles of John on a dark blue background with the Starry Night Elf avatar in the lower righthand corner | © Starry Night Elf

Part of a series of Starlight Book Reviews (SBR) on New Testament (NT) Books of the Bible. Click here to see other NT SBR.

* The following post transparently exhibits my Christian faith.

5/5 Sometimes these three books are called the Johannine epistles. Generally speaking, these are accredited to John the Apostle, the traditionally recognized author of the Gospel of John and Revelation. The following is my Starlight Book Review (SBR) of the three Johannine epistles.

“The First Epistle of John is the first of the Johannine epistles of the New Testament, and the fourth of the catholic epistles. There is no scholarly consensus as to the authorship of the Johannine works. The author of the First Epistle is termed John the Evangelist, who most scholars believe is not the same as John the Apostle. Most scholars believe the three Johannine epistles have the same author, but there is no consensus if this was also the author of the Gospel of John… This epistle was probably written in Ephesus between 95 and 110 AD. The author advises Christians on how to discern true teachers: by their ethics, their proclamation of Jesus in the flesh, and by their love. The original text was written in Koine Greek. The epistle is divided into five chapters.”

“The Second Epistle of John is a book of the New Testament attributed to John the Evangelist, traditionally thought to be the author of the other two epistles of John, and the Gospel of John (though this is disputed). Most modern scholars believe this is not John the Apostle, but in general there is no consensus as to the identity of this person or group… Second John and Third John are the two shortest books in the Bible. The shortest book in the English language is different depending on which translation (version) one reads. For example, in the New International Version 2 John is the shortest book with only 302 words but in the King James Version (Authorized Version) 3 John is the shortest with only 295 words. However, Second John has the fewest verses in the Bible with only 1 chapter made up of only 13 verses.”

“The Third Epistle of John is the third-to-last book of the New Testament and the Christian Bible as a whole, and attributed to John the Evangelist, traditionally thought to be the author of the Gospel of John and the other two epistles of John. The Third Epistle of John is a personal letter sent by “the elder” to a man named Gaius, recommending to him a group of Christians led by Demetrius, which had come to preach the gospel in the area where Gaius lived. The purpose of the letter is to encourage and strengthen Gaius, and to warn him against Diotrephes, who refuses to cooperate with the author of the letter… Early church literature contains no mention of the epistle, with the first reference to it appearing in the middle of the third century. This lack of documentation, though likely due to the extreme brevity of the epistle, caused early church writers to doubt its authenticity until the early 5th century, when it was accepted into the canon along with the other two epistles of John. The language of 3 John echoes that of the Gospel of John, which is conventionally dated to around AD 90, so the epistle was likely written near the end of the first century. Others contest this view, such as the scholar John A. T. Robinson, who dates 3 John to c. AD 60–65. The location of writing is unknown, but tradition places it in Ephesus. The epistle is found in many of the oldest New Testament manuscripts, and its text is free of major discrepancies or textual variants.”

Over the years of reading The Bible, I find the Johannine writings to be complete in their originality. This goes for these epistles. Throughout these letters, the author writes of how adhering to faith in God is rewarded with His love.

Here are standout passages from the Johannine Epistles:

⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

1 John 1:7

⁶ And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

2 John 1:6

³ It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.

3 John 1:3

* Bible Verses came from the New International Version (NIV) Bible, courtesy of Bible Gateway. Access Bible Gateway by clicking here.

Select Bibliography

Wilder, Amos (1957). “Introduction to the First, Second, and Third Epistles of John”. In Harmon, Nolan (ed.). The Interpreter’s Bible. Vol. 12. Abingdon Press. p. 211.

Starlight Book Review – Epistles of 1 and 2 Peter

Image representing the Epistles of Peter on a dark blue background with the Starry Night Elf avatar in the lower righthand corner | © Starry Night Elf

Part of a series of Starlight Book Reviews (SBR) on New Testament (NT) Books of the Bible. Click here to see other NT SBR.

* The following post transparently exhibits my Christian faith.

5/5 I recently learned that these two letters are sometimes referred to as the Petrine Epistles. This is because these two NT books were attributed to the Apostle Peter. Peter prominently figures in gospels and is considered the “rock in which the church is built.”

“The First Epistle of Peter is a book of the New Testament. The author presents himself as Peter the Apostle. The ending of the letter includes a statement that implies that it was written from “Babylon”, which is possibly a reference to Rome. The letter is addressed to the “chosen pilgrims of the diaspora” in Asia Minor suffering religious persecution.”

“The Second Epistle of Peter is a book of the New Testament of the Bible… The text identifies the author as “Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ” and the epistle is traditionally attributed to Peter the Apostle, but most critical biblical scholars consider the epistle pseudepigraphical (i.e., authored by one or more of Peter’s followers in Ancient Rome, using Peter as a pseudonym) Scholars estimate the date of authorship anywhere from 60 to 150 AD. The original text was written in Koine Greek.”

With each read, I find both Petrine Epistles timeless. Peter speaks to believers all over the place. While toiling in daily life of the world, Christians have welcomed Christ into their hearts.

Here are standout passages from the Petrine Epistles:

¹Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. ² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, ³ now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

1 Peter 2:1-3

⁹ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

* Bible Verses came from the New International Version (NIV) Bible, courtesy of Bible Gateway. Access Bible Gateway by clicking here.

Select Bibliography

Bartlett, David, New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, 1 Peter. Abingdon Press. 1998

Evans, Craig A (2005). Craig A Evans (ed.). Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: John, Hebrews-Revelation. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Victor. ISBN 0781442281.

Starry Says – Episode #69 — Taking It Easy

© Starry Night Elf

Manuscript Word Count (MWC) – 74,545

2023 Reading Goal to Date -7/124

As I’ve been dealing with what one of my patrons christened “the creepy crud,” I’ve taken to reading for various Stellar Reading Challenges (SRC), my book club, and what looks like pure enjoyment.

I’ve also been binge watching a number of shows. So far, I’ve watch the first two seasons of Stranger Things, a few episodes of That 90s Show, and all four seasons of Virgin River. I’m eager to see more of all three of these. The first two definitely appeal to my sense of nostalgia while the latter is a bit more contemporary.

Of course, now I’m seeking even more to binge watch. So, what might you suggest, Gnomies? <wink>

Starry Says – Episode #68 — 100 Challenges Posted

© Starry Night Elf

Manuscript Word Count (MWC) – 74,545

2023 Reading Goal to Date -5/124

Gnomies, I posted my final Starlight Book Review (SBR) on a 100 Year Stellar Reading Challenge (SRC) just last week! I managed to read my way through time with both books published in the day and written about the day. This makes for a total of twenty books.

To check out what I read and reviewed, take a look at these links which are now live:

Back in the Day SRC

Set in the Day SRC

My main observations from reflecting on these SBR is that our means of transportation and communication have changed. Also, cultural attitudes have modified, some for the better.

How about you, Gnomies? Did you read through time with me in ’22?

Starlight Book Review – Kate Stayman-London’s One to Watch

Cover of Book – One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London – centered on a deep magenta background with the “Starry Night Elf” Logo in the lower right hand corner | Cover Image Source: Goodreads

Set in the Day Stellar Reading Challenge – 2010s

Set in the Year 2019/ Published in 2020

Trigger Warning –  fatphobia/ fat shaming/ toxic relationships/ misogyny/ cheating/ doxxing

3.7/5 As I anticipated offering the Set in the Day Stellar Reading Challenge (SRC), I imagined the easiest books to find would be those Set in the 2010s (also known as the Tens). Gnomies, I doubt I could’ve been more wrong! I even eased up on the rule a bit for the last decade of this SRC. Yet, somehow, I discovered Kate Stayman-London’s One to Watch, a book set in 2019 and published in 2020. While some reviewers offered less than stellar opinions on One to Watch, I decided to read this book as it focused on some rather Twenty-first Century, even Tens themes.

Click here for more information on this SRC.

“Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followers–and a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show Main Squeeze. The fantasy dates! The kiss-off rejections! The surprising amount of guys named Chad! But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show. Since when is being a size zero a prerequisite for getting engaged on television?… Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections. Bea agrees, on one condition–under no circumstances will she actually fall in love. She’s in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful anti-fat beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. That’s it…. But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated. She’s in a whirlwind of sumptuous couture, Internet culture wars, sexy suitors, and an opportunity (or two, or five) to find messy, real-life love in the midst of a made-for-TV fairy tale.”

My favorite part of One to Watch happens to be the beginning when Bea makes friends with a Parisian shopkeeper. I wished the narrative, text correspondence and all, remained with this promising start. I must say Stayman-London nails all the tropes of dating reality TV as far as I’m concerned. In fact, she illustrates how “unreal” this television can be. Bea and other characters, all with their own agendas rather than actually finding true love and a happily ever after (HEA), seemed most authentic. The book left me wanting, however, some more likeable characters. I felt Stayman-London wanted readers to have certain opinions of different characters that I never quite managed. Also, I found most of the characters undeserving of their respective endgames. Nonetheless, I commend this book for being quintessentially 2010s.

Quotes come from book flaps/cover and are featured on color blocks.

Starlight Book Review – Emma Straub’s Modern Lovers

Cover of Modern Lovers by Emma Straub centered on a medium light red-orange background with Starry Night Elf avatar in lower right hand corner | Cover Image Source: Goodreads

Back in the Day Stellar Reading Challenge – 2010s

Published 2016

Trigger Warnings – Smoking/ Drinking/ Death and Suicide/ Sexual Content

3.75/5 When I planned for my reading for the 2010s in the Back in the Day Stellar Reading Challenge (SRC), my original choice ultimately did not meet this SRC’s criteria. Click here for details on this SRC. As 2022 neared its end, I considered myself fortunate that my book club chose to read Emma Straub’s Modern Lovers, a book published in 2016.

* I read Modern Lovers prior to the hubbub with author Straub and a Houston area school district. Any comments on this event with Straub will not be posted.

“Friends and former college bandmates Elizabeth and Andrew and Zoe have watched one another marry, buy real estate, and start businesses and families, all while trying to hold on to the identities of their youth. But nothing ages them like having to suddenly pass the torch (of sexuality, independence, and the ineffable alchemy of cool) to their own offspring… Back in the band’s heyday, Elizabeth put on a snarl over her Midwestern smile, Andrew let his unwashed hair grow past his chin, and Zoe was the lesbian all the straight women wanted to sleep with. Now nearing fifty, they all live within shouting distance in the same neighborhood deep in gentrified Brooklyn, and the trappings of the adult world seem to have arrived with ease. But the summer that their children reach maturity (and start sleeping together), the fabric of the adults’ lives suddenly begins to unravel, and the secrets and revelations that are finally let loose—about themselves, and about the famous fourth band member who soared and fell without them—can never be reclaimed… Straub packs wisdom and insight and humor together in a satisfying book about neighbors and nosiness, ambition and pleasure, the excitement of youth, the shock of middle age, and the fact that our passions—be they food, or friendship, or music—never go away, they just evolve and grow along with us.”

Modern Lovers seemed a great choice for the Back in the Day SRC. Straub wrote a book about characters looking both back in the past and forward to the future. At moments in my reading, I wondered how Straub managed to write a book on the precipice of time. The characters, Andrew in particular, irritated me. Sometimes, I didn’t care much about anyone in the book and that’s reflected in my rating. I would probably pick up another Straub book but there are other authors I want to read first.

Quotes come from book flaps/cover and are featured on color blocks.

Starlight Book Review – Imbolo Mbue’s Behold the Dreamers

Cover of Book – Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue – centered on a rusty orange background with the “Starry Night Elf” Logo in the lower right hand corner | Cover Image Source: Goodreads

Set in the Day Stellar Reading Challenge – 2000s

Set in the Year 2008/ Published in 2016

Trigger Warning –  alcoholism,/ drug abuse/suicide/potentially upsetting scenes regarding American immigration

4/5 I spied Imbolo Mbue’s Behold the Dreamers a few years ago and placed the book on my To Be Read (TBR) shelf. It pleased me when I learned our book club would read it last year. Furthermore, it thrilled me that this book was set in 2008 and that I read it for the Set in the Day Stellar Reading Challenge (SRC) since most of the action happens in the Aughts.

Click here for more information on this SRC.

“Jende Jonga, a Cameroonian immigrant living in Harlem, has come to the United States to provide a better life for himself, his wife, Neni, and their six-year-old son. In the fall of 2007, Jende can hardly believe his luck when he lands a job as a chauffeur for Clark Edwards, a senior executive at Lehman Brothers. Clark demands punctuality, discretion, and loyalty—and Jende is eager to please. Clark’s wife, Cindy, even offers Neni temporary work at the Edwardses’ summer home in the Hamptons. With these opportunities, Jende and Neni can at last gain a foothold in America and imagine a brighter future… However, the world of great power and privilege conceals troubling secrets, and soon Jende and Neni notice cracks in their employers’ façades… When the financial world is rocked by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the Jongas are desperate to keep Jende’s job—even as their marriage threatens to fall apart. As all four lives are dramatically upended, Jende and Neni are forced to make an impossible choice.”

I read this book with my ears, tuning in to listen to the dazzling reading of Prentice Onayemi. Onayemi pronounced names of characters and places, which pulled me into the story. I enjoyed hearing Neni sing in particular. I found the hopeful tone encouraging and the text rich. Some parts dragged for me, though; the pacing slow and almost ominous. As someone who remembers the 2008 crash, I knew something bad remained ahead for the characters. Otherwise, while not shelved on my Top 9 of 2022, I felt Behold the Dreamers deserves a nod as one of the better books I read. Also, I think I would try another Mbue book.

Quotes come from book flaps/cover and are featured on color blocks.

Starlight Book Review – Epistle of James

Image representing the Epistle of James on a dark blue background with the Starry Night Elf avatar in the lower righthand corner | © Starry Night Elf

Part of a series of Starlight Book Reviews (SBR) on New Testament (NT) Books of the Bible. Click here to see other NT SBR.

* The following post transparently exhibits my Christian faith.

5/5 If I correctly recall, I read The Epistle of James as a baby Christian faith. Upon my seventh official visit to James, I see why many choose to look at this epistle with those new to the faith.

“The Epistle of James is a general epistle and one of the 21 epistles (didactic letters) in the New Testament. James 1:1 identifies the author as “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” who is writing to “the twelve tribes scattered abroad”. The epistle is traditionally attributed to James the brother of Jesus (James the Just), and the audience is generally considered to be Jewish Christians, who were dispersed outside Israel… Framing his letter within an overall theme of patient perseverance during trials and temptations, James writes in order to encourage his readers to live consistently with what they have learned in Christ. He condemns various sins, including pride, hypocrisy, favouritism, and slander. He encourages and implores believers to humbly live by godly, rather than worldly wisdom and to pray in all situations… For the most part, until the late 20th century, the epistle of James was relegated to benign disregard – though it was shunned by many early theologians and scholars due to its advocacy of Torah observance and good works. Famously, Luther at one time considered the epistle to be among the disputed books, and sidelined it to an appendix, although in his Large Catechism he treated it as the authoritative word of God… The epistle aims to reach a wide Jewish audience. During the last decades, the epistle of James has attracted increasing scholarly interest due to a surge in the quest for the historical James, his role within the Jesus movement, his beliefs, and his relationships and views. This James revival is also associated with an increasing level of awareness of the Jewish grounding of both the epistle and the early Jesus movement.”

With each visit to James, I find the text straightforward and simple enough to understand. Simple to comprehend but not always easy to apply <smile>. As with Hebrews, I see James as a link between Judaism and Christianity.

A couple of “fun facts”:

• James the Just, or a variation of James, brother of the Lord (Latin: Iacobus from Hebrew: יעקב, Ya’akov and Greek: Ἰάκωβος, Iákōbos, can also be Anglicized as “Jacob”), was “a brother of Jesus”, according to the New Testament.
• Some have said that the book was named James rather than Jacobos thanks to James VI and I who sponsored the translation of the Bible into English.

Here’s a standout passage from James:

²Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

James 1:2-3

[a] James 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19.

* Bible Verses came from the New International Version (NIV) Bible, courtesy of Bible Gateway. Access Bible Gateway by clicking here.

Select Bibliography

Davids, Peter H (1982). The Epistle of James: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New International Greek Testament Commentary (Repr. ed.). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans. ISBN 0802823882.

Evans, Craig A (2005). Craig A Evans (ed.). Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: John, Hebrews-Revelation. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Victor. ISBN 0781442281.

Starry Says – Episode #66 — ’22 Book Year in Review

Manuscript Word Count (MWC) – 74,545

2023 Reading Goal to Date – 0/124

In 2022, I spent much time thinking about books and reading. Not only did I exceed my Goodreads goal of reading 100 books, I also continued to regularly post Starlight Book Reviews (SBR). As mentioned in Episode #65, I completed 3 out of 5 Stellar Reading Challenges (SRC) by the afternoon of December 30. The next day, I also finished the 2022 Sacred Text SRC. Click here to read about last year’s SRC. I officially kick off the 2023 SRC on Sunday, January 15 so there’s still time to complete last year’s SRC.

Below are what I consider my “Top 9 Reads” in 2022. Some books I read for various SRC, others just happened to be stellar reads for last year. I listed the fiction in alphabetical order by author’s surname, nonfiction in order Dewey Decimal Codes. Books with SBR are linked.

Fiction

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Curse of Salem (Bishop/ Special Crimes Unit #20) by Kay Hooper

Nothing to Lose (J.P. Beaumont #25) by J.A. Jance

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

Nonfiction

Bible in 90 Days

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman

The Combat Diaries: True Stories from the Frontlines of World War II by Mike Guardia

Skybreak: The 58th Fighter Squadron in Desert Storm by Mike Guardia

Prophetic City: Houston on the Cusp of a Changing America by Stephen L. Klineberg

How about you, Gnomies? How was 2022 in books for you?

Starlight Book Review – John Green’s Looking for Alaska

Cover of Looking For Alaska by John Green centered on a dark red background with Starry Night Elf avatar in lower right hand corner | Cover Image Source: Goodreads

Back in the Day Stellar Reading Challenge – 2000s

Published 2006

Trigger Warnings – Smoking/ Drinking/ Death and Suicide References/ Sexual Content

4/5 John Green wrote one of my favorite novels — An Abundance of Katherines which I read in the late Aughts. I also picked up The Fault in Our Stars around the time of the screen adaptations release. Yet, I never read Green’s first novel, Looking for Alaska until 2022 for the Back in the Day Stellar Reading Challenge (SRC). Click here for details on this SRC. I read Looking for Alaska with my ears, read by the incomparable Wil Wheaton.

“Before. Miles “Pudge” Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave “the Great Perhaps” even more (Francois Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young. She is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. Then. . . .
After. Nothing is ever the same.” 

The fact that I read An Abundance of Katherines years ago aside, I soon recognized Green’s writing style. I considered Looking for Alaska the older brother of An Abundance of Katherines. I cared about Miles Halter A.K.A. Pudge and his friends, felt concern for Alaska Young in particular. As someone maybe a decade older than these kids at Culver Creek Boarding School, I recognized the elements of dorm living and even the pranks. This seemed late Nineties, early Aughts. Pay phone usage by characters brought bake what all people had to do to reach someone; this predated cell phone ubiquity. Yet, the teens feeling invincible among other attitudes seemed timeless, as though this book might take place in any decade since 1900. Overall, I found Looking for Alaska to be well written and true to life. The Before/After, made for emotionally tough reading for me. Also, not to blame Green or this work, I stopped and started reading Looking for Alaska more than once due to a waiting list for this book. Yet, I recommend Looking for Alaska to any reader seeking something of a bygone era.

Quotes come from book flaps/cover and are featured on color blocks.