2 Timothy Chapter 2

As I have already shared before, I am now the Sunday school teacher at my church so whenever I get a chance I'd like to share some of what I plan to teach. Our lesson this week will be coming from 2 Timothy 2:8-15 . This lesson will hopefully bless someone.

Verse 8. "Remember that Jesus Christ" - The apostle seems to say: Whatever tribulations or deaths may befall us, let us remember that Jesus Christ, who was slain by the Jews, rose again from the dead, and his resurrection is the proof and pledge of ours. We also shall rise again to a life of glory and blessedness.

"According to my Gospel" - The false teaching of Hymeneus and Philetus stated that the resurrection was past already. Paul preached the resurrection from the dead; and founded his doctrine on the resurrection and promise of Christ. This was his Gospel; the other was of a different nature.

Verse 9. "Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer" - This verse contains one of the proofs that this epistle was written while St. Paul was a prisoner the second time at Rome. See the preface, where this is particularly considered.

Verse 10. "For the elect's sake" - For the sake of the Gentiles, elected by God's goodness to enjoy every privilege formerly possessed by the Jews, and, in addition to these, all the blessings of the Gospel; the salvation of Christ here, and eternal glory hereafter.

Verse 11. "If we be dead with him" - That is: As surely as Christ rose again from the dead, so surely shall we rise again; and if we die for him, we shall surely live again with him. This, says the apostle, is pistov o logov, a true doctrine. This is properly the import of the word; and we need not seek, as Bp. Tillotson and many others have done, for some saying of Christ which the apostle is supposed to be here quoting, and which he learned from tradition.

Verse 12. "If we suffer-with him" - These are other parts of the true doctrine, which the apostle mentions above.

Verse 13. "If we believe not" - Should we deny the faith and apostatize, he is the same, as true to his threatenings as to his promises; he cannot deny - act contrary to, himself.

Verse 14. "That they strive not about words" - WORDS, not things, have been a most fruitful source of contention in the Christian world; and among religious people, the principal cause of animosity has arisen from the different manner of apprehending the same term, while, in essence, both meant the same thing. All preachers and divines should be very careful, both in speaking and writing, to explain the terms they use, and never employ them in any sense but that in which they have explained them.

"The subverting of the hearers." - This is the general tendency of all polemical divinity and controversial preaching, when angry passions are called in to support the doctrines of the Gospel.

Verse 15. "Study to show thyself approved unto God" - Endeavour so to cultivate and improve thy heart and mind, that thou mayest not be a reproach to him from whom thou professest to receive thy commission.

"Rightly dividing the word of truth." - It is generally supposed that the apostle alludes here to the care taken to divide the sacrifices under the law; the priests studied, in dividing the victim down the spine, to do it so scrupulously that one half of the spinal marrow should be found on each side the backbone. Probably nothing was much farther from the apostle's thoughts than this view, which is now commonly taken of the subject.

Indeed this scrupulously dividing does not appear to have been any original ordinance among the Jews; much stress was laid upon it in later times, but from the beginning it was not so. The word orqotomein signifies, 1. Simply to cut straight, or to rectify. 2. To walk in the right way; it is thus used by Gregory Nazianzen, who, in Orat. Apol. fugae, opposes orqotomein to kakwv odeuein, walking in a right way to walking in a bad way. Thus, kainotomein signifies to walk in a new way, and kateuqunein to walk in a straight way. See Kypke. Therefore, by rightly dividing the word of truth, we are to understand his continuing in the true doctrine, and teaching that to every person; and, according to our Lord's simile, giving each his portion of meat in due season-milk to babes, strong meat to the full grown, comfort to the disconsolate, reproof to the irregular and careless; in a word, finding out the necessities of his hearers, and preaching so as to meet those necessities.

Are you on empty?

Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

I’ve heard so many Christians ask, “How can I get more of the Holy Spirit?” As if the Holy Spirit is some kind of power or force that we can control or weild. What we should really be asking is, “How can the Holy Spirit have more of me?”

We cannot control this power from on high. If we could, then we could be led to pride and strut around as if we’re some kind of “Super Christian”.

But if we recognize that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person — and that this Person is actually willing to live in us, we’d greatly be humbled! We must be very honored that the Spirit of God would inhabit these these corrupt vessels of ours and more importantly that He would even consider using us!

It’s only when we empty ourselves that we truly become filled! Let’s empty ourselves of our selfish ambitions and desires today and allow ourselves to become broken before the Lord. We need to be truly filled with God’s Power if we’re going to impact the world for Him! There’s SOOOOOO much work to be done!!

Remain blessed

Commentary on 1 Timothy 2:1-6; 3:14-16

I was recently named the Sunday school teacher at my church which I am very excited about. So now I want to share with my readers some of what I teach the students during class. This weeks lesson is titled "Instructions about worship". The following is a commentary that I will be sharing about this weeks lesson. It includes the scripture text from the New American Standard

Bible—Updated (NASU) and the King James Version (KJV), in addition to the

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

1 Timothy 2:1-6 — NRSV

2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions,

and thanksgivings be made for everyone,

Paul lists some types of requests that can be a part of every prayer (conversation

with God). Supplications discuss with God the needs of others and ourselves,

trusting that God knows and will meet the needs of His children. Intercessions

often involve concern for our sins and the sins of others, where we ask God to

forgive, cleanse, and free people from the power of sin. We sometimes pray as

though we were in their place, confessing their sins as though they were ours and

asking God to forgive us. We offer all of our prayers with thanksgiving to God,

Who by grace invites us to come to Him. Though we are undeserving to come into

His presence, He invites us to come in Jesus’ name. No one should be outside of

the circle of our prayer concerns, for Paul told us to pray for everyone.

2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a

quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.

In praying for everyone, Paul wants us to include leaders that are political or

religious, business or home, etc. Paul requests that we pray for God to work in

their lives so those who follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior do not suffer

persecution or hardships because they are believers, so believers can live godly

and receive respect for living righteous lives.

3 This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

Praying for everyone, for God to work in the lives of everyone to meet their needs

and help them make the changes in their heart, mind, and behavior that they

need to make is right and acceptable in God’s mind. God is our Savior, and the

Savior of all who trust in Him. We can pray for people, especially all leaders, to

come to know God and follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of

the truth.

God desires certain events. Some events are directly caused by God. Other events

are permitted by God as He allows people to exercise their ability to choose in

opposition to His will. God desires that everyone love God and their neighbor, but

many fight against God and His desire that we love Him and others. When people

come to a knowledge of the truth, they may choose to live in accordance with the

truth or not; they may choose to follow God as Savior or not. We can pray that

they will choose rightly, which is what God desires.

5 For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and

humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human,

Christians believe in one God, but here Paul writes of God the Father and God the

Son, two of the three Persons of the Trinity. Jesus was born of the virgin Mary

and conceived by the Holy Spirit; therefore, Jesus is fully human and fully divine.

As such, Jesus Christ can, did, and does serve as the One who brings God and

people together.

6 who gave himself a ransom for all — this was attested at the right

time.

Jesus’ death on the cross was sufficient to provide for the forgiveness of sin, the

cleansing from sin, and the freeing from sin of all people; however, some do not

want to be cleansed and freed from the sins they enjoy; some do not think they

need forgiveness nor do they want forgiveness from God. People can refuse to

accept the ransom that Jesus paid in their behalf. God sent His Son into the

world at just the right time, according to His plan and perfect timing.

1 Timothy 3:14-16 — NRSV

3:14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to

you so that,

Paul wrote his letter to Timothy in case he was delayed in coming to him. In the

providence of God, his letter was written and saved for us, and so it provides

instruction for us as well. The troubles Paul and Timothy faced we face today, and

the solutions are God-given for us to apply.

15 if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the

household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and

bulwark of the truth.

Paul describes in his letter the best way to behave and the church and the best

way to discipline and organize the church. The church is the household of the

living God. Those truly a part of the church are members of God’s family. The true church will hold up the truth, as a pillar holds up a roof, and the people will

live under and protected by the truth. The bulwark serves as a defense. The

bulwark protects people on the ship when waves wash over a deck. The church

must defend the truth which saves people and enables them to live godly lives

16 Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was

revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed

among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.

Jesus is the truth and the Bible is the truth of God written. We cannot and do not

understand completely all the truth of God, that we can understand enough truth

to be saved and enough truth to share with others that they might come to a

knowledge of the truth and be saved. Here, Paul describes Jesus, Who came in

the flesh so the invisible God became visible; Who was raised from the dead after

a ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit; Who was seen by angels at the to and

that his resurrection; Who is proclaimed as Lord and Savior not only among the

Jews, but also to non-Jews, who is believed in by some wherever the gospel is

preached around the world, and Who is seated at the right hand of God in glory.

1 Tim 2:1-6 — NASU Text

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings,

be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we

may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and

acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and

to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator

also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a

ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

1 Tim 3:14-16 — NASU Text

14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; 15 but in

case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself

in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and

support of the truth. 16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:

He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels,

Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.

1 Tim 2:1-6 — KJV Text

2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and

giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in

authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and

honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who

will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For

there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time

1 Tim 3:14-16 — KJV Text

14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I

tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the

house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the

truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was

manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the

Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

[Feel free to leave your comments, conclusions, suggestions, and thoughts as a

Comment on the Bible Lesson Forum. We can learn from one another.]

Five Questions for Discussion

1. What does Paul say we should include in our prayers? Compare his list with

what we normally include or omit in our prayers. How might we need to improve

our prayer life? Can you add to Paul’s list (think of the Lord’s Prayer).

2. What reason does Paul give for praying for leaders? Can you think of additional

reasons to pray for them? Pray for the leaders where you live and others around

the world who need our prayers.

3. In what ways might a Christian leader govern differently from a non-Christian

leader, or differently from a “Christian” leader who does not govern according to

the revealed will and spirit of God in the Bible (who does not seek the Kingdom of

God and His righteousness, though he or she says they are Christian)?

4. Why is truth important? How you and your church can become a better “pillar

and bulwark of the truth”?

5. Read 1 Timothy 3:16 again. What does Paul include in his list that surprises

you? What truths about Jesus from the Bible would you add to Paul’s list? Give a

reason for your answers.

Remain blessed