Day 366: The new heaven and the new earth

The end at last. or is it the beginning?
The new heaven and the new earth
Revelation 21:1-8
The new Jerusalem
Revelation 21:9-27
The river of life
Revelation 22:1-5
Free invitation to all
Revelation 22:6-19
Final promise and blessing
Revelation 22:20-21

Here we are at the end of all things. And it looks surprisingly familiar. God makes a new creation, but it incorporates the best of the old. Jerusalem is still there, minus its blemishes, now looking radiant and sublime. All the promises that have been made all through the Bible are now finally coming true: “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (21:3-4)
I love the thought that God himself will wipe people’s tears from their eyes. For several reasons. Firstly, it implies that people arrive in heaven still weeping. The travails of life are not to be ignored or forgotten as if they were nothing, for God understands our pain. So people arrive with the tears still on their cheeks. But in a tender intimate moment with God, each person has their sadness smoothed away. Taken, understood, tears stored up in a bottle, that sort of thing. Precious, because loved, the jewel-like tears are wiped away so that smiles can take their place.
Then it all sounds a bit like Ezekiel for a while. Angels get their measuring sticks out, there’s a river, there are gates. But there’s no temple - because we don’t need it any longer. That vehicle for transporting us into God’s presence isn’t necessary any more.
As John begins to tear himself away from this vision, and return to earth, he is left with some final words from Jesus ringing in his ears. “Yes I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

Day 365: Satan’s destruction

The end is nigh. No, really.
Christ destroys the beast and his armies
Revelation 19:11-21
The millennium
Revelation 20:1-6
The final battle
Revelation 20:7-10
The great white throne
Revelation 20:11-15


Riding out into battle is a Christ figure. Glorious this time - the white knight on his charger coming to his people’s rescue. Reading this just after Christmas makes me think that this isn’t simply a future event, it’s already happened. We didn’t realise that a baby in a manger was our glorious rescuer, that a broken man on a cross was defeating the beast and his armies as his parched lungs croaked out their final word. But he was. And is. And is to come.
Oh come on. If you watch Doctor Who you know that time isn’t straightforward. Jesus in Revelation oscillates between looking magnificent, and looking like a sacrifice. Which is he? Both of course.
After death comes judgement. In a spine tingling scene, a great white throne is placed, and earth and heavens flee from its presence, and from the One sitting on it. And the books are opened.
There is no escape. There will be justice. Everything has been recorded, and a day will come when everything will be seen for what it really is. No more lies, no deception, no special pleading. The truth will be told. Hallelujah!

Day 364: The fall of Babylon

Plagues, blood, death. Not a pretty sight, today.
The seven plagues
Revelation 16:1-21
The woman sitting on the beast
Revelation 17:1-18
Destruction of Babylon
Revelation 18:1-8
Lament for Babylon
Revelation 18:9-19
The church to rejoice over her fate
Revelation 18:20-24
Praise to God
Revelation 19:1-5
The marriage supper of the lamb
Revelation 19:6-10


Great and terrible will be God’s wrath on those who have persecuted Christians. The hard pressed believers would cheer at this. Bit this was seditious writing, so John has to disguise it, with more talk of beasts and Babylon. It’s bloodthirsty stuff, and it grates to read of heaven cheering at the death of human beings. But I need to remember that this was written to people who had watched their friends and family tortured, humiliated and killed, unless they recanted their faith. They were in a war zone, and that changes your thinking. This is telling the beleaguered troops that victory is coming. It’s a rallying call to keep fighting.

Day 363: The church and her enemies

Gruesome gore and destruction are today’s fare.
The woman, the child and the dragon
Revelation 12:1-8
Satan cast down to the earth
Revelation 12:9-17
The two beasts
Revelation 13:1-15
The mark of the beast
Revelation 13:16-18
The followers of the lamb
Revelation 14:1-5
The three angels
Revelation 14:6-13
Vision of Christ with a sickle
Revelation 14:14-20
The song of Moses
Revelation 15:1-4
The seven golden vials
Revelation 15:5-8

Reading this at Christmas time, we have a nativity scene with a difference. A royal woman is about to give birth while a hungry dragon waits to eat her baby. When the dragon is thwarted he wages war with the rest of her offspring - presumably Christians. The dragon is most likely Rome, with its seven crowned heads representing the seven hills around Rome - an example of John’s coded language. . But this monster figure soon comes to stand for all evil that confronts Christians, and he is ultimately defeated by the powers of heaven.
The political powers continue to churn and threaten in chapter 13, but they are powerless to harm the chosen ones in heaven. It’s harvest time, and like several of Jesus’ parables, the glory of earth is cut down, once and for all.
Then it’s time for another set of sevens - seven plagues to be poured out on the earth. Each of these sevens seems to replay events - we step back from the harvest and focus again in the outpouring of tribulation on earth just as after the seven seals, the trumpets took us back to the suffering and evil on earth. Tomorrow will bring some more juicy disasters, I have no doubt.

Day 362: The seven trumpets

The end of the world, part 2.
The multitude in heaven
Revelation 7:9-17
The seventh seal is opened
Revelation 8:1-6
The first four trumpets
Revelation 8:7-13
The fifth and sixth trumpet
Revelation 9:1-21
The angel with the little book
Revelation 10:1-11
The Temple measured
Revelation 11:1-2
The two witnesses
Revelation 11:3-13
The seventh trumpet
Revelation 11:14-19


Together with the Jews, a multitude beyond number from every country on earth are brought out of tribulation. God’s purposes are not thwarted by disaster - a huge number of people are saved. And saved is the word, because the world is crashing round their ears and they must be rescued and taken to a better place. This is not a vision of a restored perfect earth, but of being brought into a new place - into God’s presence for ever.
When the final seal is opened, silence falls.
A sudden and dramatic contrast.
Then another set of seven starts - seven trumpets. More trouble on the earth.
The people left on earth are generally giving themselves up to wickedness and evil, and John is told to prophesy against them. He is made to eat a scroll of God’s words - which tastes sweet at first, but turns sour inside him. There are echoes of Ezekiel’s vision, as John is told to measure the Temple. All this would spark off lots of meaning to people steeped in the Old Testament, and they would be able to draw parallels between the world they lived in, the apparent power and glory of Rome, but the picture that’s emerging saying that the real power is in God’s control room in heaven.

Day 361: The way to worship

The end of the world, part 1.
Message to the church in Sardis
Revelation 3:1-6
In Philadelphia
Revelation 3:7-13
In Laodicea
Revelation 3:14-22
The throne of God
Revelation 4:1-11
The sealed book
Revelation 5:1-8
Worship of the lamb
Revelation 5:9-14
The six seals opened
Revelation 6:1-17
The sealing of the 144,000
Revelation 7:1-8

To Sardis, Jesus has stern words. Are they asleep, or even dead? Wake up! he tells them. Philadelphia are doing well. Jesus has nothing but encouragement for them, and condemnation for “the synagogue of Satan,” false teachers who aren’t even good Jews. Then Laodicea, the most famous of the letters, who are criticised for being lukewarm. Yuck!
All these little letters incorporate some local detail, and in Laodicea there was an aqueduct bringing water from a hot spring. But it was tepid by the time it arrived - quite a disappointment.
So to all the seven churches, Jesus has stirring words. Keep going, be faithful, don’t buckle under pressure, in the end you will be rewarded.
The scene changes then, to the throne room of heaven. We see God worshipped by angels and elders. And coming into the midst of the gathering is Jesus. But Jesus in power and glory this time, Jesus resembling a baby lamb slaughtered and sacrificed. His weakness is on display. But in his weakness he is able to do something that no one else can do - open the seals on the mysterious scroll in God’s hand. Only through the weakness of sacrifice was the precious wqay of salvation opened up for God’s people.
More symbolic events follow, as the lamb opens the seals one by one. Disaster is poured out on the earth. The end of all things is near. But in the midst of calamity, a perfect number: 12 times 12 times 1000 from all the tribes are rescued, showing that God’s chosen people will not be forgotten in the end.

Day 360: Message to the seven churches

The two shortest letters in the bible today. Blink and you’ll miss them!
Second letter of John: Walking in the truth
2 John  1-13
Third letter of John: Gaius commended
3 John 1-8
Concerning Diotrephes and Demetrius
3 John 9-14
The book of Revelation: Introduction
Revelation 1:1-8
John’s vision
Revelation 1:9-20
Message to the church in Ephesus
Revelation 2:1-7
In Smyrna
Revelation 2:8-11
In Pergamum
Revelation 2:12-17
In Thyatira
Revelation 2:18-29

2 John warns against false teaching. 3 John names one individual who is not living in a Christian way: Diotrephes. Two others are praised: Demetrius, and Gaius to whom the letter is addressed. So, arguments in the church are nothing new.
And on to Revelation. At last, the final book in the Bible. Back when I started, I didn’t honestly think I’d be reading this in December - more like February! But I’ve managed to keep up all year, and it’s been a rewarding experience.
It is a letter written to seven churches in Asia, but a letter composed in the manner of a vision. A lot of what John wants to say would have been read as seditious by the Roman Empire, and it’s author, and anyone found in possession of it, would likely have been arrested and killed. So, it’s written in code. The Romans won’t understand it, but Christians, with their Jewish background, will. Let’s see how I get on.
It opens with a vision of Jesus glorified in heaven. Not gentle Jesus meek and mild, but a powerful divine figure, holding the fortunes of the churches in his hand. And he has words to say to those churches.
The message to Ephesus is “You’re doing well, but you’re beginning to slack off. Keep going, or you’ll lose your place in my blessing.” To Smyrna he says “Tough times are coming, but hang in there. Endure imprisonment, even death, and you will receive your reward.”
Pergamum get warned against false teachers - the Nicolaitans, whoever they are, and the teaching of Balaam. It seems that the prevailing culture in Pergamum is influencing the church to turn away a little from Christ, and they are encouraged to stay faithful.
Finally for today, Thyatira have one individual, a woman, who is spreading false teaching and even sexual immorality. They need to deal with her.

Day 359: Love and obedience

Love is the test.
Obedience required
1 John 2:1-14
Warning against worldliness and unbelief
1 John 2:15-23
Abiding in him
1 John 2:24-28
God’s love for us
1 John 2:29, 3:1-2
Righteousness and sin
1 John 3:3-10
Love in action
1 John 3:11-24
Overcoming the world
1 John 4:1-6
Love is of God
1 John 4:7-21
Our victory
1 John 5:1-12
Our confidence and security
1 John 5:13-21

John writes to encourage people to hold fast to the truth of Christ, to reject any false teaching that they might have heard (sound familiar?). He reminds his hearers that they are God’s children, and what a privilege that is. What matters more than anything is that we love, as God has first loved us. Love is the supreme test that shows whether someone is truthful or not - if they don’t exhibit that authentic, sacrificial divine love, then we shouldn’t listen to them. So people whose lives don’t bear out their teaching are suspect from the start.
John’s last words sum it up: “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” (5:21)

Day 358: Second letter to Timothy

Paul signs off today.
Paul encourages Timothy
2 Timothy 1:1-18
The good soldier of Christ
2 Timothy 2:1-13
The Lord’s faithful servant
2 Timothy 2:14-26
Apostasy in the last days
2 Timothy 3:1-13
The defence of the good soldier
2 Timothy 3:14-17, 4:1-8
Paul deserted by many
2 Timothy 4:9-18
Final greetings
2 Timothy 4:19-22
Martyrdom of Peter and Paul AD 67-68
First letter of John: Its purpose
1 John 1:1-4
Dealing with sin
1 John 1:5-10

Paul writes from prison in Rome, feeling a bit sorry for himself it feels. Many friends have let him down and abandoned him, he seems to be worried that Timothy is too timid, and he senses that his life is nearly over. So he urges Timothy to brace himself and do his work, warns him against false teachers, and reminds him to trust God’s word.
He finishes with a plea for Timothy to visit him. Old as he is, and probably quite weak, he needs the comfort of friends. I dare say Timothy was doing a better job than old Paul thought. But Paul can’t get out of his mind the picture of Timothy as a young boy, first professing his faith. “I’m leaving the churches in the hands of children!” he frets.
Don’t worry Paul. The kids will do alright.
And so to our last author of the Bible, John. Little is known definitely about him, we assume (but we don’t know) that the John who wrote the gospel also wrote the letters and Revelation. We assume (but we don;t know) that he wrote them at the end of his life, in exile on the island of Patmos. They read like extended meditations on the nature of God.
Chapter 1 is all about the light of God. It’s as if John has been gazing intently into God’s light for so long, that his dazzled eyes can hardly see anything else. “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” (1:5)

Day 357: Peter’s ladder of virtues

Into the last ten days of the year!
Peter’s second letter: Adding to our faith
2 Peter 1:1-11
Peter confirms the truth of the gospel
2 Peter 1:12-21
Signs of the coming apostasy
2 Peter 2:1-22
Apostasy in the end times
2 Peter 3:1-10
Exhortation to godly living
2 Peter 3:11-18
Letter of Jude: History of apostasy
Jude 1-7
Apostate teachers described
Jude 8-19
Encouragement to believers
Jude 20-23
Doxology
Jude 24-25

Peter’s second letter has a list of virtues, climaxing in love. It’s the sort of list that Paul would have written, but only after he’d spent several chapters deep in theology first. Peter comes straight out with it.
In chapter 2 he has nothing good to say about false teachers. It’s a diatribe against wicked people who have turned away from the faith. Chapter 3 focuses on what might have been one of their stronger arguments: “You’ve heard these apostles say that Jesus is coming back soon. Well, where is he?”
Hang in there, says Peter, he’s on his way. His timescale is different to ours. 2,000 years later, this argument has lost its sting. Yes obviously his timescale is different. If Jesus says “I’m coming back soon,” and we still believe it, then his timescale must be different to ours. Peter reasserts the belief that God will one day wrap up this world in judgement,m and that we should be patient until that day comes. He commends Paul’s letters to his hearers, even though he confesses he doesn’t always know what dear old Paul was on about (Does that tell us more about Paul, or Peter??)
Then Jude steps up and says much the same. The early church leaders were obviously seriously worried about false teaching, and felt it necessary to put pen to paper frequently in defence of the true gospel. Jude makes some allusions to very late Jewish writings that mention certain legends about Moses and Enoch. A little confusing to me - it he intending us to take those ideas at face value, or is he talking in code that his hearers would understand but which I don’t? I’ll have to pass on that. There’ll be more on talking in code when we get to Revelation!

Day 356: The superiority of faith

The list goes on - heroes of faith.
The faith of the patriarchs
Hebrews 11:11-22
Moses and other Old Testament examples
Hebrews 11:23-40
Exhortation to persevere
Hebrews 12:1-13
Following peace and holiness
Hebrews 12:14-17
Superiority of New Testament dispensation
Hebrews 12:18-29
Various exhortations
Hebrews 13:1-19
Conclusion
Hebrews 13:20-25

Yes, the list goes on and on. But with a wonderful unexpected twist, the writer ends up chapter 11 by saying that none of them, heroes and heroines though they all are, none of them have received the blessing that we know as Christians. It reminds me of Jesus talking about John the Baptist, calling him the greatest prophet who  has ever lived, and then saying that the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. We are royalty - adopted members of God’s own family- and that puts a new spin on the difficulties that Christians face: “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.” (12:7)
After this triumphant climax, and the reminder that we have a better blessing than the anxious Hebrews huddling at the base of Mount Sinai, the letter peters out with a string of instructions and exhortations. But its job is done, the argument is made, that Christianity is better than Judaism. It’s striking me just how much of the New Testament is a reaction against the Old.

Day 355: The new covenant

The Hebrews writer pulls out another big word: covenant.
The true High Priest
Hebrews 8:1-5
The new covenant is superior
Hebrews 8:6-13
Description of the Tabernacle
Hebrews 9:1-10
Its fulfillment in Christ
Hebrews 9:11-22
Christ’s sufficient sacrifice
Hebrews 9:23-28, 10:1-18
True worship
Hebrews 10:19-21
Rejection of Christ fatal
Hebrews 10:26-31
The believer’s reward
Hebrews 10:32-39
Examples of faith
Hebrews 11:1-10

Now the writer to the Hebrews goes over the agreement that God made with the Jews - the covenant. He gave them a pattern for a tabernacle, and the Temples were built along similar lines. The writer is telling us that these were copies of a heaven;y reality, and that there is a new and better covenant in Jesus.
Then he says a daring thing - that we can wander in to the Holy of Holies, the most sacred place in the Tabernacle or the Temple, walk freely in because Jesus has opened the way for us. Now Jew would dare do that.
This we have to take on faith, and so he begins listing the heroes of the past who have demonstrated faith. He’s leading up to something, and what it is, we’ll find out tomorrow.

Day 354: Christ’s pre-eminence

Hebrews continues to assert that Jesus is better than just about everything. Even sliced bread.
Christ greater than Moses
Hebrews 3:1-6
Warning against unbelief
Hebrews 3:7-13
Necessity for faith
Hebrews 3:14-19
Our sabbath rest
Hebrews 4:1-13
Christ our High Priest
Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:1-14
Exhortation to go on to maturity
Hebrews 6:1-12
God’s unchangeableness
Hebrews 6:13-20
Melchizedek a type of Christ
Hebrews 7:1-28

Hebrews moves on to talking about Moses, the great Jewish hero. In his arguments with the Jews, Jesus often found his opponents saying “We have Moses as our Father,” or “Moses gave us the manna in the desert.” They looked back to Moses as their defining identity. But, Jesus is greater than Moses, says the writer. Don’t look at the servant, look at the Son.
When they were wandering in the wilderness, what the people longed for was rest. “Rest on every side” was their dream - safe in their own land, with no enemies attacking them. The original generation in the desert were doomed never to experience that rest, because of their unfaithfulness, and the rest that the Jews did enjoy was fitful at best. So the writer holds out the prospect of a better, deeper rest - “a sabbath-rest for the people of God.” (4:9). This metaphor takes on a deep and profound meaning, and the writer continues to develop it as he talks about Jesus ascending into heaven and sitting down at God’s side. Job done. Entering his rest.
That rest is there for us one day.
Then the writer turns his attention to another focus of Jewish identity, the High Priest. He wants us to know that the earthly High Priest, is incomplete and imperfect, always offering his sacrifices again and again, because they are never enough. But Jesus has offered one perfect sacrifice once for all, and then sat down. Job done, Entering his rest.
But there’s a problem - Jesus can’t be a priest, because he’s from the wrong tribe. He isn’t a Levite, he’s descended from Judah. He’s not one of the religious civil service, so he wouldn’t have been allowed to offer a sacrifice. So the writer digs down into the depths of the Old Testament and fishes out an unlike;y character to be a forerunner of Jesus. It isn’t only Levites who are priests. Melchizedek was a priest.
I wrote about Melchizedek way back on January 13th, when I said, “Then the mysterious Melchizedek appears. Priest of God Most High, he blesses Abram. Who is this man? Where does he come from? How does he know God? All unanswered questions. For now, all we know is that Abram has an ally.” Melchizedek is a mysterious chieftain, one of the potentates of the region. But he knows God, and he brings a blessing. And in him, the writer to the Hebrews finds a forerunner to Jesus.

Day 353: Christ our example

We get an insight into how hard it was to be a Christian in the Roman Empire.
The life of peace
1 Peter 3:1-13
The righteous life
1 Peter 4:1-11
Rejoicing in sufferings
1 Peter 4:12-19
Exhortation to be strong
1 Peter 5:1-9
Concluding prayer
1 Peter 5:10-14
Letter to the Hebrews: Christ greater than angels
Hebrews 1:1-14
He took on human nature
Hebrew’s 2:1-9
His sufferings and victory
Hebrews 2:10-18

Peter is concerned that those he is writing to should stand up under suffering and persecution. It was not easy being a Christian in those days - almost everyone else tended to automatically hate you. Those who Peter calls pagans “are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.” (4:4) This is a typical response of young non-Christians today. We know that the Romans and the Jews hated Christians also, so it was no picnic being known as a follower of Jesus.
Peter confronts the issue head on, saying “if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” (4:16) He offers no cure, and little comfort, simply saying that Jesus suffered, and we should be pleased to be able to imitate him. It is likely that Peter couldn’t be too explicit, because the Roman authorities would have made life even worse for Christians if they thought that seditious literature was circulating among them. So he concludes his letter with cryptic words: “She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings.” (5:13) This means, hello from the church in Rome! But probably even admitting in writing that there were Christians in Rome would have been dangerous.
Tough times.
And so to the letter to the Hebrews. Written anonymously, long thought to be by Paul, but it doesn’t read like him at all, so we really haven’t a clue who wrote it. It was written to Jewish Christians who were thinking about giving up their new faith and going back to the old one, probably as a result of considerable pressure, but not to the extent of martyrdom. It gives theological reasons why Jesus is better than Judaism. Chapter 1 tells us that he is better than angels. Chapter 2 tells us that he was fully human, so he understands and sympathises with our plight.

Day 352: Order in the church

Similar handover instructions to Titus. And then we find out that Peter can write letters too.
Letter to Titus: Selection of elders
Titus 1:1-16
Pattern for Christian living
Titus 2:1-15, 3:1-7
Importance of good works
Titus 3:12-15
Peter’s first letter: The Christian’s security
1 Peter 1:1-12
Exhortation to holiness and love
1 Peter 1:13-25
A chosen people
1 Peter 2:1-10
Patience in suffering
1 Peter 2:11-20
Christ’s example
1 Peter 2:21-25

Paul. writes to Titus in similar vein to his letter to Timothy. He is to appoint elders in every town, and is told how to choose good ones. It seems that Paul doesn’t have a good opinion of Cretans, he quotes a Cretan poet saying as much, and warns Titus not to stand for any nonsense.
Then we turn to Peter. He is writing a general letter to lots of churches, so I’m not expecting him to dive into particular controversies in the way that Paul has.
He begins with the resurrection hope. Because Jesus is alive, everything will be alright, and because of that we should live holy lives. He dwells on the wonder of a God who has taken us from nowhere to being his sons and daughters, and quotes lovingly from the Psalms and the prophets. Peter liked his Bible. It comforted and encouraged him constantly. He loves his Lord, who he reads about in the pages of the prophets, and who left us an example to follow.

You're nothing but a pseud...

Someone who follows my blog commented on Twitter, asking me if I thought that the letters to Timothy and Titus really were written by Paul. Many (most) theologians think that they were not, that they were what is technically called pseudapigraphal writings, that is, written by someone else but in the name of Paul.

Well, he put it more pithily that that ...

"@nlsharp deutero-Paul ?"

These days we react badly to the idea that someone used another person's name to write in. We prize originality so highly, consider plagiarism a crime, and in our online lives feel anxious and insecure when we don't know who it really is that we are talking to.

But 2000 years ago, people thought differently. Signing your letter with a famous person's name was a legitimate way to get yourself listened to.

All this raises two questions.

Who really did write Paul's letters? and Why didn't I mention this in my previous posts?

I'll tackle the second question first.

I have taken the Bible pretty much at face value as I've gone through the year, putting to one side what I think I know about it, and trying to let it speak to me fresh. So if it says Paul on the tin, I've tried to let myself assume that it's Paul in the tin. Why? I didn't want to get bogged down with questions that can't be completely answered. which might be akin to wondering how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.

It's the same when I'm preaching, I don;t tend to go into details about authorship unless I feel it's germane to the point of the passage. Is this dishonest? To me, it's about not getting distracted. If you disagree (and I'm fine with that) please let me know with a comment.

So to the second question. Who really did write it?

Well, the honest answer is that we don't know.

Scholars say that it doesn't sound like Paul, the subject matter isn't usual for him, and it's not quite up to his standard.

Then again, if you saw a shopping list written by me, when all the other writings of mine you'd come across was this blog, you might say the same.

The key point surely is - does it matter? Pseudapigraphy isn't an attempt at deception, it's more a way of joining in a community, continuing the conversation.

Bit like a blog, in a way.

So go on, tell me. What do you think?

Day 351: Paul instructs Timothy

Ok, Timothy, it’s over to you.
Guidance for the church
1 Timothy 2:1-15
Qualifications of elders and deacons
1 Timothy 3:1-16
Timothy to be an example
1 Timothy 4:1-16
The work of a minister
1 Timothy 5:1-16
Value of godliness with contentment
1 Timothy 6:1-10
Paul’s charge to Timothy
1 Timothy 6:11-19
Conclusion
1 Timothy 6:20-21

This isn’t one of Paul’s top notch letters, it’s more about ecclesiastical housekeeping. There’s some instructions on worship, on the proper qualifications for leadership in the church (of those qualifications, I think I fail at least five ... don’t tell my bishop!) and on how Timothy himself should be an example to other Christians. Paul has never been shy of telling people to imitate himself, and he wants Timothy to be the same. Complete consistency is what he is after. Timothy can’t afford to be holy and righteous on Sunday, and a right so and so to his family and friends all week.
Timothy, though young, was entrusted with authority as a leader. Paul tells him how to exercise that authority so that people follow him willingly - not to allow people to look down on him, but not to lord it over them either.
So there you are, Timothy, get on with it.

Day 350: Paul in Rome

So Paul reaches his final destination.  
Paul’s earnest desire
Philippians 3:1-21
Exhortation to stand firm
Philippians 4:1-9
Paul’s contentment
Philippians 4:10-19
Conclusion
Philippians 4:20-23
Paul’s conference with the Jews
Acts 28: 17-29
Paul stays in Rome
Acts 28:30-31
First letter to Timothy: Greeting
1 Timothy 1:1-2
The purpose of the law
1 Timothy 1:4-11
Paul’s call
1 Timothy 1:12-17
His charge to Timothy
1 Timothy 1:18-20

Yet again, Paul has something to say about the Judaizing false teachers who dogged his steps. He calls them dogs, evildoers, mutilators of the flesh. Very strong language. And he goes on, listing his achievements as a Jew and the spectacularly casting them onto the dung heap in comparison with the wonderful joy of knowing Jesus.  Paul would lose everything, life, health, status, contentment, so long as he could have Jesus.
He concludes the letter with a plea for unity, by urging them to thanks God in all circumstances, and by thanking the Philippians for helping him out. He wants to say that because of Jesus, he can cope whether he has money or not, which sounds a little ungrateful, but that’s not the way he means it. As always with Paul, Jesus is so much more important than anything else, that he comes across as a little weird. And that’s on a good day.
The conclusion of Acts finds Paul in Rome, under house arrest, but free to meet with people, and still spending every moment talking to anyone and everyone about Jesus. It’s slightly odd that we don’t hear what happened to him in the end. Did he meet Caesar? Was he executed? Was he spared and released? But then it’s kind of fitting that the last we hear of him he is still talking about Jesus. It’s like he’s never stopped.
On then to his first letter to Timothy.
Familiar themes emerge in the first chapter. Paul corrects false teaching, praises God’s wonderful grace in saving him, the worst of sinners, and issues a few commands and instructions to Timothy, one of his most trusted lieutenants.