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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

  • Letters from Proselytes of Galatia to Paul 

    Letters from Proselytes of Galatia to Paul 

    Premise: The Apostle Paul likely received one or several letters to which the Apostle responds with Epistles to several churches and certain important persons.

    Who wrote to the Apostle Paul?

    Think about this —

    Paul and other Apostles come into your town or city, proclaim some Good News, build a church of Christ followers, establish some local leaders. AND then after some time these missionaries leave to go somewhere else into all the world.

    ACTS of the Apostles details some of these encounters which occur after numerous encouraging visits of various apostles sent out to them.

    Apostles Sent to the Gentiles with a Letter of the Council
    Many apostles and letters communicate Good News of one faith in Christ for all the world.

    Although we have no preserved documentation of any messages or letters delivered to the Apostle from the Gentiles, I suspect that Paul perceives a crisis of faith in the churches of Galatia — a crisis conveyed to him by faithful disciples of the risen Christ and perhaps even believers considering IF they should abandon The Way of the Lord for a more prevalent cultural Judaism.

    WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

    The Apostles, including the Twelve and Paul, James and other church leaders communicate in person and by messenger by the Spirit who has sent them out into each mission.

    Major Roman Provinces of the Aegean including: Achaia, Greece, Macedonia, Asia Minor, Galatia, Cypress and Syria including major cities of Paul's first missions.

    Who are the Galatians?

    In Paul’s day, the word Galatia had two distinct meanings. In a strict ethnic sense, Galatia was the region of central Asia Minor (modern Turkiye) .. a Celtic people who had migrated to that region from Gaul (modern France) .. (in) 25 B.C. when Galatia became a Roman province, incorporating some regions not inhabited by ethnic Galatians (e.g., parts of Lycaonia, Phrygia, and Pisidia). In a political sense, Galatia came to describe the entire Roman province, not merely the region inhabited by the ethnic Galatians.

    Paul founded churches in the southern Galatian cities of Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (Acts 13:14–14:23).

    Commentary of John MacArthur – BlueLetterBible.org
    You will recognize these Galatian cities from Paul's early missions into all the world.
    Lystra and Derbe in the Taurus Mountains of Turkey

    WHY did Paul write to the Galatians?

    Regardless of who founded any of the Galatian cities in the A.D. first century Roman Empire, every town had an ethnic challenge common to all churches established by the apostles in every Roman province.

    Proselytes – Judaizers fleeing Persecution for the Cross of Christ

    The covenantal culture of the Jews opposed the pagan practices of peoples of other cultures. SO the Jews insisted on certain traditional identifications of Jewish men such as circumcision.

    Who are these proselytes?

    Even as Paul, Barnabas, Silas and other apostles had encountered opposition from Jews seeking their own disciples, so had the Lord Jesus.

    “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

    Gospel of Matthew 23: 15 LSB
    The Lord Jesus Christ describes the culture of Judaizers rejecting their own Messiah

    An Apostolic Urgency to Write to the Galatians

    PAUL must urgently address the concerns of those men in Galatia struggling in the faith

    AND like all Christians, pursued by the Jews.

    TWO QUESTIONS HERE:

    • WHO represents the earthly authority of GOD?
    • IF it is CHRIST, what is PAUL’s authority over the JEW and non-Jew?
    Later, I will get to a Twenty-first century C.E. challenge
of this AUTHORITY in Christ which has now challenged the Church for some 500 years.

    How will the Apostle answer?

    “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

    Galatians 5:1 KJV

    Galatians 1 – Paul’s Authority

    The Apostle begins his Epistle to the Galatians by firmly establishing his authority and leadership of the churches.

    Paul, an apostle—not sent from men

    • nor through man,
    • but through Jesus Christ
    • and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead—
    • and all the brothers who are with me,
    Pretty convincing.

Paul opens fire against familiar enemies of Christ (Judaizers).

    6 I marvel that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ for a different gospel, which is really not another, only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

    • Paul clearly states that the Galatians must choose:
      • – between him as a representative of God the Father and Christ Jesus OR
      • – teachers of a false and distorted gospel
        • (which is not good news but a Jewish tradition chained to the Law and regulations of the flesh).

    Paul defends not only his credentials and calling by Christ, but once more presents his case of Christ’s freedom to these gentile believers caught between the Gospel and the yoke of the Judaizers.

    2:17 But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be!

    I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.

    Galatians 2:21 LSB
    PAUL goes straight to the QUESTION of deceitful men claiming a GOSPEL other than Christ crucified and risen -- Judaizers seeking to lure these Galatian Christ-followers back to a Law of social Judaism.

    3 O foolish Galatians, who bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?

    THEN the Apostle clearly asks these men of the church a key QUESTION of their calling.

    2 This is the only thing I want to learn from you:

    Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law,

    or by hearing with faith?

    “The righteous shall live by faith.”

    What does Paul seek to prove here refuting Judaizers requiring circumcision of gentile proselytes?

    And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying,

    “All the nations will be blessed in you.”

    Galatians 3:8 LSB

    The Apostle QUOTES Hebrew SCRIPTURE from BEFORE the LAW.

    From Genesis 22:

    22:18  וְהִתְבָּרֲכוּ בְזַרְעֲךָ כֹּל גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְתָּ בְּקֹלִי׃

     “By Myself I have sworn, declares Yahweh, because you have done this thing and have not spared your son, your only one, indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.

“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have listened to My voice.”

    LATER comes THE LAW of Moses by which the Christ was crucified on a Cross as a redemptive Sacrifice for our sins. (It was NOT ONLY for the Jews, but for ALL the seed of Abraham — every sinner.

    The Apostle makes further legal arguments and adds an allegory comparing:

    The Apostle’s closing argument

    1. 5:4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are being justified by law; you have fallen from grace!
    2. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are eagerly waiting for the hope of righteousness.
    3. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

    Faith Reformed in Fact

    Jewish faith — to Christian faith — to Scriptural faith informed in the Good News of the Word of God…

    Who has believed our message?

    The Galatians and every other culture encountered by the Apostles —

    ~ ano Domini 49 – 50

    ~ A.D. 49 Paul has just written to the Galatians out of the Apostle’s concern for their failing faith being replaced by a false gospel.

    NEXT: Paul will also write to the THESSALONIANS out of his same love for the children of Christ Jesus the Apostles have led so far.

    WHERE could other gospels lead these Christian flocks of the Empires?

    A fall of Rome, a division with an Orthodox New Rome (Constantinople) and Western father of Bishops and Princes competing for pawns of populace.

    New temples built as CATHEDRALS for poor pilgrims to look up to God and well-mannered robed men who could actually READ the Holy Bible of God…

    And then printing presses and challenges by Reformers pointing to Scripture in place of the yoke of Law and even Church law.

    In my heart reigns this one article, faith in my dear Lord Christ, the beginning, middle and end of whatever spiritual and divine thoughts I may have, whether by day or by night.

    From Luther’s Introduction, ano domini 1538

    THEN what should happen in yet another 500 years once common men and women of the Common Era COULD (yet did not) actually READ the BIBLE?

    a brief application …

    My HOT reaction to a 1st. c. Hot Topic

    Talk of JESUS . com

    Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel

  • Divinity, Doctrine and Denomination

    Divinity, Doctrine and Denomination

    As I pointed out in our last Saturday Post WE, the church, seem to have some differences dividing our approach to divinity.

    Denominations / Why can’t we all just get along?
    ~800 MILLION Protestant Christians [37% of the world population] can be divided into < 40,000 denominations

    What does it mean to be called a “Christian?” 

    Who are all of those ‘denominations‘ that call themselves, ‘Church?’

    And what do doctrine and divinity have to do with it?

    Divinity

    GOD IS HOLY text of Deuteronomy 6:13

    God IS God! (and WE are NOT)!

    Anyone who denies THIS has a humility problem!

    Look it up:

    ĕlōhîm – אֱלֹהִים

    θειότης – theiotēs From θεῖος from Godhead

    For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, both His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

    Romans 1:20 LSB

    Doctrine

    This entire Saturday Post series (including Church) addresses doctrine. READ MORE: What is Doctrine?

    Do you really believe that? doctrine - a line in the sand [picture of Jesus kneeling down to draw a line with his finger

    But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.

    Titus 2:1 Legacy Standard Bible

    Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

    Galatians 6:7 LSB

    For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.. Romans 1:18

    Denomination

    Martin Luther originally gets much of the blame for his PROTEST against false teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.

    Luther’s theology stood on the truths of Scripture and faith.

    For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

    For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY FAITH.” – Romans 1:16-17 LSB

    Denominations / Why can’t we all just get along?
    Scripture tells us how false teachers leaven the Church and the faithful must discern the dangers of false preaching.

    Church DE-NOMINATIONS seem to be doubling-down lately into divisions over SOCIAL issues.

    AND this phenomenon of churches redefining themselves is not limited to any particular denomination.

    What does it mean to be a church?

    RE-fitting YOUR church vision to accommodate changing cultural mores doesn’t really seem to have anything to do with divinity or sound doctrine rooted in Scripture and proclaiming the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

    As you have seen in my previous Saturday Posts, although gaining downhill momentum toward the pit of destruction, this trend is nothing new.

    But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. .. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words..

    These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been kept. For speaking out arrogant words of vanity, they entice by sensual lusts of the flesh, those who barely escape from the ones who conducted themselves in error..

    Second Letter of the Apostle Peter to the Church 2:1,3,17-18 LSB

    In the beginnings of the first century Church the Apostle Peter mentions an earlier fall of Israel as an example of the ever-present danger of false teaching.

    Can we be a ‘church‘ without doctrine?

    Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach..

    “My teaching is not Mine, but from Him who sent Me. “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is of God..

    Gospel of John 7:14b,16-17a LSB

    TEACHING IS DOCTRINE!

    Is the Doctrine YOU hear in YOUR church from God?

    If YOU think the preacher of the church YOU ‘attend‘ doesn’t have some ‘NON-NEGOTIABLES’ of Doctrine, it’s time for you to listen closer (and think for yourself).

    • What DOESN’T he/she say — EVER?
    • What Truth will the man or woman with the mike REFUSE to PREACH from the pulpit or have you hear in the good-feeling lyrics of the amplified sounds of worship?
    • Which Bible verses have to be bent just a little to connect to OUR audience?
      • DARE WE EVER preach REPENTANCE before grace?
      • Let’s bring Christ down from heaven just a bit, so he feels closer to OUR audience just for an hour (and only on Sunday).
    




    What makes a CHURCH Christian?
    




    NO Christology a study of creation without Christ
    

    • Have BIBLE verses evaporated from the wall of worship behind the stage of OUR worship service?
    • Does OUR pastor hesitate to mention Christ Jesus?
    • Is a pressing social issue important to the growth of our church?
    • Can OUR church be BOTH christian AND other?
    

    




    Although I am a lay theologian; that is, I study God and I study Scripture and I study Jesus Christ, I must once again point you toward the teaching of a most respected Christian theologian. 
Although I will add my comments here, seek your own answers about the church you belong to locally. 
(And once your read this and think through the doctrine YOU hear, why not ADD your COMMENTS to this post?)- RH
    




    




    Divinity, Doctrine and the Christian Life
    




    “The great divorce of doctrine and life will destroy the Christian life.
    




    Lloyd-Jones on the Christian Life: Doctrine and Life as Fuel and Fire
    Foreword by Sinclair B. Ferguson By Jason C. Meyer, Series edited by Stephen J. Nichols, Justin Taylor, Foreword by Sinclair B. Ferguson
    




    Doctrine and life are fuel and fire, not oil and water.
    D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
    




    




    THINK DOCTRINE, EMBRACE TRUTH, ACT ACCORDINGLY
    




    1. doctrine comes to mind
    2. truth captures the heart 
    3. which then moves the will to act
    




    The Bible starts with God the Father always, everywhere and we must do the same — because that is the order of the blessed Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.
    D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
    




    “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 
    “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.
    “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
    “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.
    Gospel of John 17 – from the High Priestly prayer of Jesus Christ to the Father
    




    ..theology must first concede that the finite cannot fully know the infinite. Therefore, theology is sometimes an exercise in negation. 
    Lloyd-Jones pictures theology as the act of building a fence around the incomprehensible mystery of God.
    Jason Meyer
    




    • Does the world HATE you because of any witness of Jesus Christ you claim by faith?
    • WE are in the world, so do we recognize the evil one?
    








    Have you even heard your pastor caution his/her church about the evil one?
    




    • Jesus did.
    








    • Do others worshiping the Lord alongside you recognize that Christ has set YOU, me and members of His Body the Church apart for salvation?
    




    Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us take hold of our confession. – Hebrews 4:14 LSB
    




    EMBRACE this TRUTH: 
    




    Sinful man CANNOT intercede with the HOLY GOD (who WE are NOT) without accepting our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ as the Perfect Sacrifice for our sins – the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
    




    Our partial knowledge of God is real knowledge, but it falls far short of comprehensive knowledge.. God alone is
    “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”
    Jason Meyer, quoting the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 4:8b
    




    




    NEXT, God-willing, we will continue with Jason Meyer's overview of the doctor of doctrine Martyn Lloyd-Jones and his prescription for this brief moment of our our Christian lives.