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)
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)
No comments:
Post a Comment