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  • 2 Timothy 1 – For this Gospel I was appointed

    2 Timothy 1 – For this Gospel I was appointed

    Google map of the Roman world with stops of the Apostle Paul including Lystra where Timothy joined Christ's mission

    For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,

    Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy 1:11 RSV

    Paul’s Gospel of God and Christ

    The Apostle has begun his final pastoral epistle with encouragement of young Timothy as his beloved son appointed to continue in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

    From Personal Sonship to Apostolic Responsibility for the Gospel

    Paul also identifies some of who fall away from Christ and others who remain faithful. (It remains a pattern for the ages.)

    What is Paul’s Gospel?

    And now - the Gospel The Logic of Paul's NEWS for the Corinthians 15:1-11 logic ethics emotion triangle

    εὐαγγέλιον

    euangelion

    Paul has written to the Romans, faithful saints in the city in which the Apostle is imprisoned and awaiting death:

    Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel G2098 of God,

    Romans 1:1 KJV

    To the Corinthian saints Paul writes:

    .. for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. G2098

    1 Corinthians 4:15b KJV

    and

    But if our gospel G2098 be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

    2 Corinthians 4:3 KJV 

    We could point to additional epistles of Paul to the saints of various churches.

    Paul refers to the GOSPEL 74 times in 68 verses in ‘The Pauline Epistles.’

    God’s Divine plan now revealed in Christ

    That’s the Apostles’ NEW Good News!

    In Paul’s earlier pastoral letter to Timothy the Apostle had written:

    As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,

    1 Timothy 1:3 RSV 

    Certain saints supposedly committed to Christ had already wavered away from the Gospel Paul taught.

    Now we know that the law is good, if any one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane..

    and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God

    with which I have been entrusted.

    1 Timothy 1:8-11 excerpt RSV

    I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; and this will be made manifest at the proper time by the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

    who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has ever seen or can see.

    To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

    1 Timothy 6:14-16 RSV – charge of the Apostle Paul to Timothy

    Paul worships God and Christ, pointing to the promise of the eternal mystery now revealed in the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

    Paul’s Gospel of SALVATION in JESUS

    manifested by the appearing of our Savior

    join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us

    and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works,

    but according to His own purpose and grace

    which was given to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

    but now has been manifested by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus,

    who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

    2 Timothy 1:8b-10 LSB

    Jesus is now revealed as our Savior and it is death from which He has saved us.

    This is the gospel of Jesus as our saviour which Paul emphasizes throughout this last pastoral epistle to Timothy and saved saints of the Church.

    2 Timothy Commentary

    Retain the standard of sound words

    Hold to the standard of sound words that you heard from me and do so with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus

    2 Timothy 1:13 New English Translation

    Hold fast the form of sound words…

    2 Tim 1:13a KJV

    Retiens dans la foi..

    LS

    Retén la forma

    SE

    1:13 ὑποτύπωσιν ἔχε ὑγιαινόντων λόγων

    Retain – echō is the word Paul uses.

    The Apostle has used [ὑποτύπωσις]hypotypōsis  in his first epistle as well:

    Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern G5296 to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

    1 Tim 1:16 KJV

    And again Paul states here:

    Hold fast the form G5296 of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

    2 Tim 1:13 KJV

    His outline [or pattern] here is for Timothy and any pastor who will follow in the authority of Christ Jesus — the Apostolic faith which Paul, Peter and others have echoed.

    RETAIN THIS, insists Paul.

    Preachers, Apostles and Teachers

    This self-discipline [v.7] to which the Apostle has already pointed requires preachers and teachers to retain this pattern of Paul.

    Therefore do not be ashamed of either the witness about our Lord or me His prisoner..

    2 Tim 1:8a LSB 

    a brief reminder about apostles, preachers and teachers.. and then, saints:

    An Apostle is ‘sent out’ or set apart under the Authorithy through God and Christ.

    IF you address your preacher standing in a pulpit going nowhere but the stage of their church as Apostle So-and-so, you miss the Apostolic authority Paul calls for preachers and teachers to retain as our pattern in Christ Jesus.

    Paul points out that he was appointed [tithēmi ] to all these responsibilities. He is an apostle, a preacher and teacher.

    The Church often used a symbolic laying on of hands for such offices, but the true sign is of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of Almighty God.

    Preachers

    kēryx is the same word Peter used of Noah calling him, ‘a preacher of righteousness.’ It’s a noun meaning: a herald or messenger vested with public authority.

    You’ll recognize Paul’s point from its verb meaning to preach or proclaim.

    From that time Jesus began to preach G2784 and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

    Gospel of Matthew 4:17 LSB

    and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed [ G2784] in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

    “You are witnesses of these things.

    Gospel of Luke 24:46-48 LSB – Jesus to the Apostles just prior to His ascension

    Paul reminds Timothy:

    That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.

    2 Timothy 1:12 NLT

    Teachers

    διδάσκαλος – in the NT one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man

    “A disciple is not above his teacher G1320, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher G1320, and the slave like his master.

    Gospel of Matthew 10:24-25a LSB  

    And a reminder that mathētēs is any student or disciple of a teacher. 

    Slave is doulos which we often gently translate, servant. 

    And again the significance of the teacher (whether Paul or Jesus or a teaching Elder of your church) is that relationship — 

     of Teacher-Student or Master-Servant — kyrios - the same word often used for the Lord JESUS points to the authority of God.

    “You call Me Teacher G1320 and Lord  G2962; and you are right, for so I am.

    Gospel of John 13:13 LSB – Jesus to His Disciples

    a duty of the saints and pastors

    Now if any one says that we need not direct men how or what they should teach, since the Holy Spirit makes them teachers, he may as well say that we need not pray, .. or that the Apostle Paul should not have given directions to Timothy and Titus as to how they should teach others.

    And these three apostolic epistles ought to be constantly before the eyes of everyone who has obtained the position of a teacher in the Church.

    ON CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE – AD 397 & 426 – translated JF Shaw, book IV, ch xxxiii excerpt – ST. AUGUSTINE of Hippo

    Augustine, an elevated father of the early Church, presents sound reasons why all saints of Christ ought to dutifully follow their teachers and why all pastors can only lead their sheep of Christ’s pasture in diligence of prayer, obeying the Holy Spirit and keeping in Scripture, including these pastoral epistles.

    Guard the Truth

    guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

    Second Epistle of the Apostle Paul to Timothy 1:14 RSV 
    * SUMMARY OF THIS GOSPEL:
    Christ alone is the good shepherd...
    Christ’s sheep know only Christ’s voice 
    and follow it.

    God knows well who are his as Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:19:
    “Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.”

    It is not a congregation of Christ that strives for the honor of this world and desires to be esteemed great in the eyes of the world…

    ~ AD 1520 – Sermons of MARTIN LUTHER – a theologian, Catholic priest, reformer and former Augustinian friar – Vol 3, Pg 340 [translated Lenker]

    NEXT: 2 Timothy 2 – STRONG Teachers and FALSE Preachers

  • 2 Timothy – Apostolic Faith and Pastoral Oversight by Paul

    2 Timothy – Apostolic Faith and Pastoral Oversight by Paul

    Introduction

    God and Christ became incarnate in order to restore Their personal relationship with sinful man.

    Roger@TallkofJesus.com

    God and Apostles, Disciples of men

    Our purpose in introducing Paul’s final epistle to a pastor is:

    1. to reintroduce you to the Apostle Paul and

    2. to reacquaint you with Timothy, a disciple of Paul who served him in varying roles,

    BOTH whom we’ve met in Acts of the Apostles and other epistles.

    Let us begin with God

    (says the teacher to his class).

    God — YHWH the LORD — Is One.

    One in Being. One in Essence. One in Substance.

    There IS no other god.

    God IS the Creator of all things and of all mankind.

    He had a relationship in the beginning of time — before which He Exists and after which He Exists — the LORD’s relationships are perfectly personal.

    God IS: Father, Son — Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

    Christ, Apostles and Disciples

    The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy in his first epistle:

    This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

    First letter of the Apostle Paul to Timothy

    Jesus, the incarnate Son of God the Father, taught the Gospel with all perfection to men for three years.

    The Twelve Disciples (which included neither Paul nor Timothy) followed the Lord, ate and slept with Jesus — they all knew the incarnate Son of God personally.

    Consider the interpersonal relationships connecting each of these roles as defined by Scripture and what the Lord Jesus, our Teacher, instructs:

    Disciple (follower), Master (teacher), Servant (slave) and Lord

    The Disciples Matthew, John and Peter were all present with the incarnate Christ Jesus personally when the Lord said this:

    The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

    Gospel of Matthew 24:14 – Jesus’ to The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service & meaning of discipleship – KJV

    μαθητής – mathētēs – disciple (268x) – a learner, pupil, one who follows one’s teaching:

    The Twelve followed JESUS for three years, discipleship at its most personal.

    Furthermore, many others would follow JESUS’s teachings as ‘Christians’ chosen by God for the Way of eternal life.

    Apostles to the Jews and Gentiles

    Of course from the beginning Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him and that a disciple Mathias would be chosen to replace the betrayer of Christ as a twelfth Apostle to the Jews.

    Christ had taught and trained the Twelve how they would become Apostles — primarily, but not exclusively, to their fellow Jews —after His death, resurrection and ascension.

    Apostolic Faith 2 Peter = Greek and transtilerated -Second Epistle of Peter

    We last looked at the Apostle Simon Peter

    Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

    2 Peter 1:1 KJV

    Paul also refers to himself as an Apostle, greeting his disciples (followers) in his first epistle and this final letter.

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

    To Timothy, my dearly beloved son:

    2 Timothy 1:1-2a KJV

    So who are apostles?

    Acts Apostolos - Acts 1 of the Apostles begins a 28 chapter account of the chronicles of Christ's Apostles - a history of Christ's Church

    Apostolos – a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders

    • specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ
    • in a broader sense applied to other eminent Christian teachers
    • – of Barnabas of Timothy and Silvanus

    Apostles are ‘sent out’ by Christ.

    As in the case of the Twelve and the Apostle Paul, the Lord himself instructed them Personally — that is, the Person of Jesus sent these Apostles out into the world personally.

    Other apostles continued to be ‘sent out into all the world’ by the Holy Spirit after Jesus’ ascension, as Luke records for us of the day of Pentecost in ACTS 1.

    As we learned from Acts of the Apostles that after the AD 49 Council in Jerusalem, Peter, Paul, John and all others were sent out ‘first to the Jews,’ but also into gentile areas of the Roman Empire (mostly Hellenist or Greek provinces) to include ALL as follows of Christ as part of each local church.

    Jesus is Lord

    Note that Jesus Christ refers to the Father as Lord (Kyrios in their common Greek language of the Roman Empire) with an authority and meaning no different than the original Hebrew scripture (Yahweh).

    “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

    And He said to him,

    “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’

    Matthew 22:36-37 LSB

    Saul, a Jew of Jews, sent out by a Master crucified and risen!

    About five years after the Jews of Jerusalem had crucified Jesus, a young disciple of Gamaliel witnessed the stoning of a follower of The Way.

    They went on stoning Stephen as he was calling out and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And having said this, he fell asleep.

    Acts of the Apostles 7:59-60 LSB

    Stephen, even in his dying breath, called JESUS, “Lord” – twice.

    And this young disciple of the rabbi Gamaliel had witnessed it personally.

    Saul of Tarsus would become an apostle of the Sanhedrin specifically sent out to continue persecuting Christians.

    But then, as we know, Christ appeared to Saul and instructed this new and unwilling (at first) Apostle to go to the Gentiles.

    Damascus Road: Witness into all the World

    Paul frequently writes that He is a slave (doulos) of JESUS or God(or of the gospel). The Lord Jesus himself points to the service required of this most personal relationship. 

    Many translations prefer servant to slave, but it is the same Greek word: doulos.

    The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

    Gospel of Matthew 10:24 KJV

    The Apostle Paul describes himself in another pastoral epistle written about the same time as his two letters to Timothy:

    Paul, a servant G1401 of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

    Epistle of Paul to Titus 1:1

    Timothy – Paul enlists a disciple of The Way

    Lystra, Derbe and Iconium in the Taurus mountains and general Roman region of Galatia to where Paul sends the first of his epistles.

    Now Paul also arrived at Derbe and at Lystra.

    And behold, a disciple was there, named Timothy,

    the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer,

    but his father was a Greek,

    Acts of the Apostles 16:1

    During Paul’s second missionary journey, which had begun inland through the mountains northwest of Tarsus in rural Galatia. While visiting churches established by Barnabas and him on a first missionary journey, the Apostle meets a young Timothy — a Greek, because of his father, but brought up as a Christ-follower by his mother(a Jew, as Paul had been) and Timothy’s grandmother.

    A brief introduction of Timothy (Τιμόθεος – Timotheos) 

    Timothy's early journeys are found in Acts of the Apostles.

    ~AD 49

    Second Missionary Journey – Acts 16

    Timothy joined Paul and Silas on mission, staying behind at Berea for a time with Silas. Paul, later commands the two by the Spirit to join him in Athens from where the trio proceed to Macedonia.

    Paul then ‘sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

    Acts 19:22 KJV

    We observe how personal all of the mentoring relations of the Apostle remain to Paul as Luke records those with the Apostle when once again the Jews laid wait to capture and kill him.

    Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea,

    Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica,

    Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus

    and Trophimus from the province of Asia.

    Acts of the Apostles 20:4 Berean Standard Bible 

    We will mention more of Timothy's crucial later pastoral roles later in this epistle.

    Timothy wrote other epistles with Paul :

    It is important for us to note that these Pastoral Epistles make known the Spirit-directed teaching of the Apostle Paul we must study, rather than focus on any pastors or saints to whom Paul writes, such as Timothy.

    • ~AD 50-51
    Thessalonians and the Righteous Judgment of God
    • ~AD 55-56 the Apostle Paul writes:
      • 1 Corinthians with Sosthenes and
      • 2 Corinthians with Timothy
    preaching to them that perish - Paul writes to the Corinthians to consider his different way of preaching
    The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians with Sosthenes and a second time with Timothy
    *graphic from a 2024 TalkofJESUS SERIES Post: Rebuke of ministers that perish without the Cross
    • ~AD 60-62 The Apostle Paul writes to:
      • the Ephesians
      • the Philippians
    Archaeological Site of Philippi: General view of the forum with adjacent agora marketplace

    Archaeological Site of Philippi: General view of the forum with adjacent agora marketplace

    Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

    To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

    Philippians 1:1 NIV

    • the Colossians, with Timothy
    • and a personal plea along with Timothy to Philemon, concerning Onesimus.

    NEXT: 2 Timothy 1:

    timotheos agapētos teknon

    To Timothy, my beloved son

    Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel

  • The Apostles Creed 8 We Believe in the Holy Spirit

    The Apostles Creed 8 We Believe in the Holy Spirit

    And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him;

    but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit,

    it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.

    Gospel of Matthew 12:32 ASV

    The Apostles’ Creed — foundational to our Apostolic Christian faith

    Followers of Christ must always expect an attack against Scripture. Church doctrine is a line in the sand. - How will a leader or council of leaders choose what the Church will teach?
    I BELIEVE or WE BELIEVE IN:

    We believe in ..

    1. God the Father almighty,
      • Creator of heaven and earth,
    2. Jesus Christ
      • God’s only Son, our Lord,
    3. who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
      • born of the Virgin Mary
    4. Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate,
      • was crucified
        • and was buried
    5. On the third day He rose from the dead
    6. He ascended to heaven
    7. He sits in the favored place of God the Father
      • He will judge the living and the dead.

    Here, the weightiness of what we have just confessed must certainly convict the faithful soul. Then follows a reiteration and underlining of the same fundamental faith:

    (I or WE believe in:)

    • The Holy Ghost
    • more…

    source: apostles-creed.org

    The Apostles’ Creed

    The Apostles’ Creed and other affirmations of faith were adopted corporately by the Church to refute permeating heresies plaguing believers since the time of the Apostles.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    The Apostles Creed

    As Scripture states:

    GOD IS ONE IN ESSENCE,

    and as the Gospel reveals,

    THREE IN PERSON.

    More on Trinity from R.C. Sproul 

    Some translations of τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου - lit. the Ghost the Holy - read: Holy Spirit, while others read: Holy Ghost — hagios- most holy thing, a saint; pneuma.

    I believe in

    the Holy Ghost

    the third Person of the Trinity.

    The Holy Spirit, also referred to as the Holy Ghost, is the third Person of the Holy Trinity, co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit is a central figure in Christian theology and is integral to the believer’s life and the Church’s mission.

    Source: BibleHub.com Topical Encyclopedia

    Separate Roles of the Holy Spirit

    You may have thought that we had already addressed the Holy Spirit in the Apostle’s Creed.

    The Apostles Creed 3- Christ Conceived by the Holy Spirit

    In fact, the Creed first brings up the Spirit in relation to His role in the conception of Jesus, the Only Son of the One God, by Mary through her virgin birth of the Christ or Messiah of Israel.

    Now the Creed reiterates our belief in the Person of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Old Testament as well as the Gospels.

    Once again, let’s look to the Good News of what the Only Son who has seen the Father tells His Disciples about the Holy Spirit. (And note the context of Jesus’ answers about the Spirit.)

    (Possible) Good News of the Holy Spirit 

    Returniing to our opening Scripture from the Gospel of Mark from the King James Version.

    And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

    “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

    But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:”

    Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

    Gospel of Mark 3:22,28-30 KJV 

    When the Lord Jesus was baptized by John then began His teaching as the Son of Man:

    And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

    depiction of John baptizing a man at the Jordan river

    And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened,

    and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

    And there came a voice from heaven, saying,

    Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

    And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

    Gospel of Mark 1:9-12 KJV

    Gospel of John

    For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

    John 3:34 ESV

    Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.

    And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

    These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.

    Gospel of John 14:24-25 ESV – the words of JESUS Christ

    But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

    Gospel of John `3:26 ESV
    people receiving the Holy Spirit descending like a dove
    Why Is the Holy Spirit Compared to a Dove?

    Receive the Spirit!

    God the Father knew you and chose you long ago,

    and his Spirit has made you holy.

    As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace.

    The Apostle Peter, Greeting from his first epistle

    In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

    The Apostle Paul’s epistle to the Romans 8:26 BSB

    Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD? 

    The Question is that of God speaking through the Prophet Isaiah, who the Apostle Paul later quotes [64:4] to the saints of the Corinthian church.
    or informed Him as His counselor? 
    Whom did He consult to enlighten Him,
    and who taught Him the paths of justice?
    Who imparted knowledge to Him
    and showed Him the way of understanding?

    Isaiah 40:13-14 BSB

    the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God

    But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit.

    The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him?

    So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

    We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

    And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God…

    Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 10-14a BSB

    NEXT – the controversial CHURCH

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