Meditations on 2 Timothy 1:8-14

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”
(2Ti 1:8-14 ESV)

This passage of Scripture starts a couple of theme that will be played throughout the rest of 2nd Timothy. This themes are suffering and following doctrine. The section starts with a “therefore,” therefore before I start with this section I will summarize the last section to help start understanding this section. Verses 3-7 talk about faith of Timothy. In verses 3-4, Paul mentions that he never forgets Timothy or his faith, Verse 5, Paul mentions Timothy’s grandmother and mothers and a claim that Timothy has the same faith. Verse 6 Paul tells Timothy to grow the gift that God has given to him because of his faith. Finally in verse 7, Paul mentions that God has given a spirit of power, love, and self-control to Paul and Timothy instead a spirit of fear.

With that now in our minds, it is the spirit of power, love, and self-control that in mind when Paul writes “therefore” in verse 8. So when Paul mentions to Timothy that he should “not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner,” it is based on these spirits that Paul mentions in verse 7. Not only is not to be ashamed of these testimonies, Paul instructs Timothy to share in the sufferings for the gospel. Both Jesus suffered and Paul is suffering for the gospel. Jesus’ suffering was to ransom sinners to God, which is what makes the gospels. Paul is suffering for the spread of the gospel.

This suffering is according to the power or ability of God. In the Greek text, the word translating “by” is “kata” meaning according to. This means that God is actively involved with the suffering. It also shows that the suffering for the gospel is done with the ability of God. So God gives the spirit of power, love, and self-control in order for Paul to suffer on the strength of God and now Paul is instruction Timothy to do the same.

I am going to stop here and lets think about how this knowledge can impact our lives. Now here in American, we do not have to worry to much about suffer to the point of dying but there are other suffering that Americans do have. I have a friend who suffers because he is standing for the gospel at a church that has watered it down. He suffers at home because he wants to go street witnessing but his wife is also caught in the modern day evangelical nonsense of people can only be saved in a church. Even though my friend is suffering and at this time I can not think of a time i suffered for the gospel, this passage hits both of us. It tells me not be ashamed of God. Jesus talks about this when he tells His disciples that they should not fear man but fear God. This is the play out of that understanding. God has given us Christians the power to overcome suffering and to overcome being ashamed.

I can tell you right now, that I am ashamed of the gospel currently in my work place. I work with a guy who walked away from Christianity because he was taught the gospel. He sees people with zeal and with no knowledge preaching at him yet they commit grieves sins. I have yet to preach the gospel to him. He needs it just like I needed and still need today. So I am ashamed to give the gospel because I feel that it will ruin a relationship. My pride here is what stops the gospel from spread (which means I have sinned). So in this little verse, there is some much that I need to change because God is in control. I should be willing to suffer a lost of a relationship and have tensions at work. It will this suffering that will put on display God’s power. So it is when I trust in God for his power, that I will not be ashamed of the testimony of Christ. The theological point here: Suffer for the gospel because God has given to the Christian His power to be with them.

Meditations on 2 Timothy 1:1

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus."

What a great verse to think about. As always when doing a Bible Study, one should observe the text. Notice right away that the verse has 4 sections: An...by...according to...that. The first section is fairly easy to observe. Christ Jesus describes the word apostle by narrowing down to whose apostle. The Greek text is without a definite article before apostle. Which could mean either "an" or "the" apostle. The Bible shows that Paul was not the only apostle of Jesus so "an" is a better fit.

The next section starts with "by." The word "by" is a representation of dia in the Greek. The main action of the conjunction is through. It was through God's will that Paul would become an apostle. The New Living Translation has a better phrase to understand this. It says, "chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus." Also "will" is defined as God's will which sets it apart from Paul's will. This shows that God had ordained Paul for apostleship before it happened because was part of His plan.

The 3rd section talks about the promise. The promise is more defined by “the life.” Paul’s calling to an apostle was to fulfill the promise by proclaiming it. This is found in the conjunction “according to.” Commentartors mention that according to should be viewed as the purpose of Paul’s ministry. So Paul’s purpose is to fulfill or proclaim the promise of life. In other words, Paul is telling Timothy that God selected Paul to proclaim the promise of life. The promise of life is not this present life by the life that God gives in eternity, which proclaimed through the gospel. Paul’s whole ministry was to proclaim the gospel to lost souls. Giving the lost souls an opportunity to be saved by God to have life for eternity. This life was lived out by Paul when Luke describes the travel of Paul through Acts.

The 4th section is about where that promise of the life is. The verse tells us that the promise of life is in Christ Jesus. The promise of the life is given to those who have repented and trusted in Christ. The promise of the life is heard through the gospel which is centered around the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. That is why the promise is in Christ. It was Christ that defeated death so those who believe will have eternal life.

I know that I could go deeper and I might edit and go but here is the point. Paul’s life as a Christian was ordain by God for the furthering of the gospel. He did not choose to be a apostle but God selected him. The same is true for us today. God select us for our ministry to further the gospel of Christ by His will. This does not mean to be an apostle but through other gifts that He gives. Our task though is to become obedient to the call of being faithful witnesses. This is done by denying our own will and accepting God’s plan.

An example in my life of this is street witnessing. God has given me an able to teach and overcome a fear of man (sometimes) to proclaim Christ on the street. I do not like talking to strangers but for some reason God has given me the gift When I do witness to people, I do not stumble when preaching the gospel and I am able to defend to gospel. This is totally based on God’s grace.

To Him to be Glory:

Solus Christus!

Spring Break

It is Spring break time. Look for some posts from me.

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES!!!!

The reason that we are to love our enemies is because God loved His enemies first. His love was displayed when His Son, Christ Jesus, died on the cross to provide the only way for humans, enemies of God, to be reconciled to him. So we should praise Him for that.

Praise God as the One who provides justice to the sinners and also justifies the sinner. Praise God for redeeming those who trust in His Son alone for salvation. Praise God for the destruction of those who are lawless before him. Praise God for giving you one more chance to believe before you face eternal damnation because of your sins.

Since the last update post.

It has been awhile since I had an update on my life. This post will give a short update on my life. This last semester was my hardest yet. I was finishing a paper from last deployment and also started Greek Class. I would have to work really hard this semester to maintain a decent GPA. My work load would include Genesis (which was one of my harder classes), Greek (the other hard class), Acts (it was kinda a joke), Church Ministry (which was a joke), and Theology (which was my best class). I was also in Worship Orchestra. I would finish this year with a 3.62.

What was more exciting that mid way through the year, I started dating a girl that I meet in one of my class. To protect her, I will not give her name. It has been great to get to know her over the past 3.5 months. I was also able to travel with her to her home and get to know her family.

This semester, I have another heavy load. I am taking Hermeneutics, Old Testament Backgrounds, another Greek class, Romans, Intro to Missions, and US. History. This should be a harder year. I also started to work at the computer lab on campus. This should be a fun an exciting time.

Well, there is a quick update of what is happening.

John MacArthur Quote

‎"The greatest persecutor of evangelical Christianity is probably liberal Christianity"

Whose presence is thus promised and pledged?

This is from GraceGems.org and is a daily e-mail I receive. I post this one because of the beauty which is in Christ. There was been a few edits from the original b/c of some format errors. The original content has not been changed.

Whose presence is thus promised and pledged?

(Octavius Winslow, Christ is Ever With You!" 1863)

"Lo, I am with you always--even unto the end of the world!" Matthew 28:20

Whose presence is thus promised and pledged?

It is the presence of Christ! The Christ who is God. "Immanuel, God with us!"

The Christ who . . .
made all worlds,
created all beings,
governs all empires,
controls all events!

The Christ who replenishes . . .
earth with beauty,
heaven with glory,
eternity with song!

The Christ before whom angels and archangels, principalities and powers bend, and at whose name every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord!

The Christ . . .
whose glory is divine,
whose beauty is peerless,
whose wealth is boundless,
whose love is as infinite as His being!

The Christ who . . .
bore and put away your sins forever,
uplifted and forever removed your curse,
paid all your great debt to Divine justice,
sorrowed for you in the garden,
suffered and expired in your stead on the cross,
rose from the grave, ascended up to heaven, lives and intercedes for you, representing your person and presenting your prayers and praises with ineffable acceptance and delight--to His Father and your Father, to His God and your God.

"Lo, I am with you always! Mark! Behold! I the Incarnate God, I who opened my bleeding heart for your redemption on Calvary, I who am your dearest Friend--I am with you always, in all places, and at all times, unto the end of the world!"

O honored saint of God! You have . . .
the Divinest in the universe to love you,
the Mightiest in the universe to shield you,
the Loveliest in the universe to delight you,
the Dearest in the universe to soothe, cheer, and gladden you!
O favored disciple of Jesus--you have such a one ever at your side!

This is the promise of promises--the richest pearl of all the promises, exceeding in its mightiness and preciousness; while it is the substance, sweetness, and pledge of all the rest!