January 18, 2026 | The Second Sunday After the Epiphany
Full-text of the Appointed Lessons (RSV and NRSV), with instructions for lectors
January 18 – The Second Sunday After the Epiphany, Year A – RCL
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
The Second Sunday After the Epiphany, Year A, Jan. 18, 2026
Isaiah 49:1-7
The prophet Isaiah foretells a Messiah whose life would summarize the history of his people, and thus, in time, expand the New Covenant. The Lord’s servant will be a light to the nations.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Listen to me, O coastlands…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Common Lectionary
Listen to me, O coastlands, and hearken, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.” And now the Lord says, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength—he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
New Revised Common Lectionary
Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.” And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength—he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, “Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
The Second Sunday After the Epiphany, Year A, Jan. 18, 2026
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Paul begins his letter to the Corinthians with praise for their faith and discipleship, orienting them toward the God revealed in Jesus Christ as the author and perfecter of their faith.
A reading (lesson) from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians:
(Lead in with) RSV: Paul, called by the will…; NRSV: Paul, called to be…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ; who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
New Revised Standard Version
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind– just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you– so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
The Second Sunday After the Epiphany, Year A, Jan. 18, 2026
John 1:29-42
John the Baptist witnesses to Jesus’ messiahship and disciples begin to gather and follow Jesus as their teacher and Lord.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to John:
(Lead in with) RSV: The next day…; NRSV: John saw Jesus coming…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness, “I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
New Revised Standard Version
John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, `After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
January 18 – The Second Sunday After the Epiphany, Year A – BCP
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
The Second Sunday After the Epiphany, Year A, Jan. 18, 2026
Isaiah 49:1-7
The world suffers darkness of heart and of eternal vision; through his chosen people, Israel, God promises to lift up a light to dispel all darkness.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Listen to me, O coastlands…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Common Lectionary
Listen to me, O coastlands, and hearken, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.” And now the Lord says, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength—he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
New Revised Common Lectionary
Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.” And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength—he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, “Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
The Second Sunday After the Epiphany, Year A, Jan. 18, 2026
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Paul begins his letter to the Corinthians with praise for their faith and discipleship, orienting them toward the God revealed in Jesus Christ as the author and perfecter of their faith.
A reading (lesson) from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians:
(Lead in with) RSV: Paul, called by the will…; NRSV: Paul, called to be…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ; who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
New Revised Standard Version
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind– just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you– so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
The Second Sunday After the Epiphany, Year A, Jan. 18, 2026
John 1:29-41
John the Baptist witnesses to Jesus’ messiahship and disciples begin to gather and follow Jesus as their teacher and Lord.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to John:
(Lead in with) RSV: The next day…; NRSV: John saw Jesus coming…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness, “I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).
New Revised Standard Version
John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, `After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed).
Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Living Word | Lectionary Preaching Aids
Exploring the Texts
“…We must struggle and endure to the end, seek to live godly, righteous, and sober lives. But we are not the light. We have the Light of Christ by adoption and grace, but we carry also the knowledge and effects of sin and death.”
“…The rock upon which our feet are set, the place where we remain, the presence that remains with us, is secure forevermore.”
“Just as the Spirit remained on Jesus, we are to remain with Jesus. Remaining with him, his Spirit spills over us and into us.”
Preaching Today
Andrew Hunter: Behold the Lamb of God!
“Now, according to John, God’s lamb is going to take away the sin of the world itself. This can only mean that God’s rescue operation is moving out, wider than just Israel, to embrace the whole of creation.”
Jordan Hillebert: John’s Big Moment
“John’s big moment, the most important sermon of his career, basically ends up sounding like a celebrity sighting: Look everyone! It’s him! There is an urgency in John’s announcement, an attempt to break through the noise, to focus everyone’s attention on the one thing that truly matters.”
Susan Brown Snook: Where Evangelism Begins
“Evangelism begins with noticing—as John the Baptist noticed Jesus and saw the Holy Spirit remain on him; as the disciples noticed John the Baptist’s words and decided to follow and discover more; as Jesus noticed the disciples and invited them to come see.”
Classic Texts
John Chrysostom: Application of That Glorious Name
“Do you see the constant repetition of the name of Christ? It is plain even to the most unobservant that it is not by chance nor unwittingly that Paul does this. Rather, it is in order that by incessant application of that glorious name Paul may foment their inflammation and purge out the corruption of the disease.”
Martin Luther: Him Who Bestows It
“John neither gives nor brings forgiveness of sins; he only points to him who does bestow it. In John’s baptism forgiveness is promised; in Christ’s baptism it is given.”
Cyril of Alexandria: To Renew Our Nature
“The only-begotten Son receives the Spirit, but not for his own advantage, for the Spirit is his, and is given in him and through him, as we have already said. He receives it to renew our nature in its entirety and to make it whole again, for in becoming human, he took our entire nature to himself.”
Articles on Epiphany
Paul D. Wheatley: The Mystery of Epiphany
“This mystery, as Ephesians tells us, is disclosed as a transformation of humanity by the gift of the Spirit, into sons and daughters through the gift of the Spirit. What is revealed in the mystery of the Incarnation, and celebrated in the Epiphany, is that God the Son’s union with humanity is an embrace that, in our baptism, clothes us with his divine humanity (cf. Gal. 3:27).”
Wesley Hill: A Cruciform Epiphany
“Advent is a time of preparation for the feast of Christmas, Epiphany builds upon that feast and ushers in the next chapter, the darker-hued season of Lent, which in turn lays the foundation for Easter and Pentecost.”
H. Boone Porter: Epiphanytide in Year A
“For preachers and teachers who wish to explore the significance of our Lord’s baptism more fully, this year with Lectionary A offers an especially favorable opportunity.”
Articles on the Holy Spirit
H. Boone Porter: Baptism and the Holy Spirit
“Those who perceive the Holy Spirit operating in all of life find themselves in opposition to those who believe the Spirit can only be identified and properly recognized within the Christian Church. Is the Holy Ghost the divine agent of creation, or only of re-creation?”
Esau McCaulley: Seeking the Holy Spirit
“As a child I never much liked the Holy Spirit because he would often descend upon our church at the most inopportune moments. I liked church, but I loved football, and the Spirit’s descent meant that our rather long service would extend for an extra half hour or so.”
Christopher Wells: Descent of the Holy Spirit
“God the Father meets us in his Son, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to lead us to eternal life, which we call salvation. To meet God is therefore to journey with him, starting with our own rescue. ‘He reached down from on high and grasped me; he drew me out of great waters’ (Ps. 18:17).”
Articles on the Lord Jesus Christ
Bryan Owen: Abiding in Jesus
“Jesus says that if we abide in him, if we stay connected to him, if we stay close to him, we will be grounded in that source of life apart from which we cannot bear the fruits of love and obedience.”
Mac Stewart: Unseen Warfare
“There are the obvious defenses: complete distrust of self to overcome these enemies and total trust in the Lord Jesus Christ who dwells in the Christian’s soul to defend her against these raging foes. But there are also some counterattacks on offer that strike at the very heart of the passionate impulses.”
H. Boone Porter: Light and the Incarnation
“Jesus Christ embodies the intellectual light, the truth, the meaning, and the divine purpose on the basis of which all that exists has been constituted. It is on this same basis that our rationality as human beings is possible (“the light of men”). But “light” suggests more than rationality. It is the faith, it is love, it is the goodness of God which illumine the heart and which make us truly human.”
