"After forty days Noah opened a window he had made in the ark and sent out a raven, and it kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth. Then he sent out a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. But the dove could find nowhere to perch because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark. He reached out his hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark. He waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark. When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth."~Genesis 8:6-11

Friday, February 1, 2013

2 Timothy


Paul wrote this letter to Timothy just before his death, during his second Roman imprisonment in 67AD.  Paul and Timothy have had a really long relationship and have been in the ministry together for seventeen years.  They were together throughout Paul’s second missionary journey, and part of his third (Acts 16-19).  Timothy has seen Paul beaten and taken to prison (Acts 16:16-40), probably multiple times (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).  He has been sent forth to various cities by Paul to do ministry (1 Cor 4:17, 16:10, Philippians 2:19-24, 1 Timothy 1:3).  At this point, Timothy has been in Ephesus for quite some time, charging people to not teach different doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3).  Paul has previously written to Timothy in regards to that false teaching, to encourage him and give him instructions about it, but the tone and purpose of this second letter differs significantly. 

Paul writes to Timothy, his beloved child, knowing that he is just about to die (1:2, 4:6-7).  He recognizes that this might be the last chance he has to say anything to Timothy, and so he sticks to what is important.  He tells him to remember Christ (2:8), live upright (2:22), endure suffering, and fulfill his ministry (4:5).

"and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3:15

OBSERVATION
What can the sacred writings do?
Make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

INTERPRETATION
Is this idea replicated elsewhere in the NT?
2 Peter 1:3, Peter says that God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him.  He continues to encourage the pursuit of knowledge of Christ throughout the letter.

TIMELESS TRUTH
Christians should always seek to gain further knowledge about Christ.

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