Three Minute Bible

August 14, 2026August 13, 2026

1 Timothy 6:15b-16a – Being God

A bright light shines over the horizon. (Grok)

God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.

Summary: Paul’s words provide a description of God that is both awe-inspiring and humbling.

One of the things about the Bible that is a bit hard for us to comprehend is how things work in the spiritual realm. For example, Jesus says that he and the Father “are one” (John 10:30). What does that mean? How are we to understand this?

Here, in Paul’s letter, he writes that God is the “King of kings and Lord of lords.” That makes sense to me because Paul is pointing to God’s supreme authority. He is God, and we are not. But there is something else here. Paul is not the only one to use this description of God.

In John’s description of Jesus setting out for the final battle against Evil we see him described with a name on his thigh:

“On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Revelation 19:16)

Both God and Jesus share the same title. Both of them share the same authority. As Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”

Both are immortal.

I thought the use of the word “immortal” was interesting, because when we live with God in heaven, all of us who serve King Jesus will technically be “immortal.” But there is a big difference between our life in Christ and God’s immortality.

God pre-existed everything (Genesis 1:1). He exists outside of time (Psalm 90:4). He is to human immortality what a 100-year-old man is to a newborn baby.

The immortality of God is without beginning or end.

Then we have the quality of Light. Paul says the Lord lives in “unapproachable light.”

I am reminded of the story of Paul’s direct encounter with the Lord:

“As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.” (Acts 9:3)

When Paul says that God lives in “unapproachable light,” he knows what he is talking about!

Authority, immortality, and unapproachable light. There is a reason the Bible says that we should “fear the Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:13).

Application: God is Awesome!

Food for Thought: What would you add to Paul’s description of God’s power and position?

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August 13, 2026August 12, 2026

1 Timothy 6:14b-15a – Game Changer

Picture of a chessboard with a football dropping into the middle of the game. (Grok)

… until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time…

Summary: Understanding that Jesus is coming again is a game changer for many of us.

When you read the words in this passage, what do you think of?

For some of you, this is a ‘loaded’ question. Church leaders have argued about what these words mean for centuries. In fact, this topic is one of those that divides many churches, so we are going to approach this carefully and in love (agapē). I want to respect your opinions while at the same time gently challenging your thinking a bit.

Let’s explore some passages about Jesus’ coming:

“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:28)

This is a very interesting statement because it is a direct statement of fact. Jesus is not speaking metaphorically or in parables. Taken at face value, his words mean that the coming of Jesus in his kingdom will be witnessed by people who were alive in Jesus’ day.

Obviously, the first question that inquiring minds want to know is this: Are Jesus and Paul talking about the same thing? In other words, is “coming in his kingdom” the same thing as “appearing”?

In the case of Jesus’ statement about the ‘Son of Man coming in his kingdom,’ a few verses later Jesus takes Peter, James and John to the top of a mountain where they see Jesus’ glory revealed (Matthew 17:1-13).

In Daniel’s vision (Daniel 7), he sees “one like a son of man” coming before God and being given “authority, glory and sovereign power” (Daniel 7:14). The vision says that “his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

Do you remember the vision of Stephen as he spoke before the Sanhedrin? He says:

“‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’” (Acts 7:56)

Does this qualify as an “appearance of our Lord Jesus”?

Finally, since this is supposed to be a brief meditation, what about the thief on the cross? Recognizing his guilt, he turns to the man on the cross next to him and sees, not another man, but a king. He simply asks to be remembered when Jesus comes into his kingdom. And Jesus’ response?

“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

There is much more in the Bible on this topic, but one thing we can be sure of— Jesus Christ is King.

Application: When it comes to the Bible, keep your eyes on God.

Food for Thought: How does this passage help Timothy—and us—keep our focus on our good confession?

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August 12, 2026August 12, 2026

1 Timothy 6:13c-14a – All or Nothing

Cartoon showing an archer with a target that is only the bullseye (Grok+)

… I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame…

Summary: This passage is packed full of everything that Paul holds dear.

As we work our way through Paul’s letter to Timothy, we methodically pick through every sentence for spiritual and informational gemstones God has planted in the text. This is not an approach we take lightly! However, a drawback of moving slowly is that we can lose track of the larger picture. For example, which “command” is Paul referring to?

If we go back to the beginning of the paragraph, Paul says, “But you, man of God…,” and then he launches into a series of instructions:

1. Flee from the temptations that come with a desire for money (verses 6-10).

2. Pursue “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” (v 11).

3. “Fight the good fight of the faith” (v 12).

4. Take hold of … eternal life (v 12).

5. Hold fast to your “good confession” of faith in Jesus Christ (v 12).*

Could this be the “command” Paul is referring to?

Then there is the qualifier that Paul adds:

“I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame…”

Whoa!

That sounds a lot like Paul is demanding perfection.

Is he?

The answer, in short, is “Yes.” Paul is asking a lot of Timothy. Yet, before we rush to judgment, let’s step back and take a deep breath.

First of all, Paul considers Timothy to be his “true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). This is different than a father’s expectation of his biological son. Paul’s sentiment toward Timothy is not based on emotional affection but instead on a shared love and commitment for the Gospel.

In his quest to serve God, Paul holds himself to an impossibly high standard.

Before he understood that Jesus was, in fact, the Son of God, Paul persecuted Christians to the ends of the earth because he believed they were an affront to God. After he encountered the living God on the road to Damascus, Paul changed course and devoted his life to the very thing he had been committed to destroying.

In his service to God, Paul doesn’t allow himself to serve in half measures. It is all or nothing, and he expects the same of his true son in the faith.

Application: Be ‘all in’ for Jesus.

Food for Thought: Some might accuse Paul of demanding we submit to ‘works righteousness.’ What do you think? What is Paul asking of Timothy and us?

*Yes, I am putting words in Paul’s mouth here. See “1 Timothy 6:13b – Good News!.”

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August 11, 2026August 10, 2026

1 Timothy 6:13b – Good News!

Cartoon of man shouting "Good News!" (Grok)

… and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession …

Summary: Paul’s reference to the ‘good confession’ points us to the essential core of the Gospel message.

Ah yes… the “Good Confession.” What, exactly, is Paul talking about?

The record of Jesus’ conversations with Pilate is fascinating. John, especially, shares a great deal of detail about what happened.

Pilate is curious. Looking at the impoverished carpenter turned itinerant rabbi, he seems to be almost amused. “Are you the king of the Jews?,” he asks, somewhat incredulously. He has obviously heard the Jews muttering this about Jesus even though they didn’t bring charges against him officially.

Jesus responds with, “My kingdom is not of this world.”

Jesus is not a threat to anybody, especially someone like Pilate. But why are the Jews so stirred up? Jesus has often taught about the ‘kingdom of God’ and because of his royal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, the Jewish leaders have accused him of being a ‘wannabe king.’ Pilate, no doubt, had heard of these mutterings.

All Jesus confessed was the Truth. His kingdom is not of this world.

Timothy made a “good confession,” too.

What was his “good confession”?

Paul doesn’t quote Timothy’s exact words, but he does tell us what it was about:

“Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12)

How do we ‘take hold’ of eternal life?

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he writes:

“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel…” (2 Timothy 2:8)

Jesus, the Christ (the promised Messiah), descended from David (promised by God — a kingdom “established forever”*), and raised from the dead (Acts 2:32). This explains what the gospel (the Good News) is. Jesus explains why it is good news:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

These are not ‘magic words’ one says as an incantation. Far from it! These words — or words like them — are a confession of what we believe to be true. They are words that, if believed when spoken, change the course of a person’s life … forever.

Application: Believe and be saved.

Food for Thought: If the kingdom of God (Jesus) is not of this world, where is it?

*2 Samuel 7:16

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August 10, 2026July 29, 2026

1 Timothy 6:13a – The Watcher

In the sight of God, who gives life to everything…

Summary: Paul’s opening words to this passage provide an inspiring peek at the source of life.

Speaking of Paul’s sentences that run on for a full paragraph, here is another one! Let’s begin by examining his opening words because they are worth a few minutes of our time.

“In the sight of God, who gives life to everything…”

Paul can’t see Timothy when he is writing his letter, but he knows God can. He also knows God sees him as well. God sees us all!

That has to be a comforting thought for Paul as he writes to his “true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). God’s family might seem spread out over the far reaches of the entire world, but no matter how far apart they are, God is keeping track. No one is ever “lost” in God’s family.

Speaking of God, Paul points out that this is the God who “gives life to everything.” That is an interesting thing to think about as well.

I don’t know this for a fact, but I don’t believe that God can create us and the whole universe we live in and just “walk away” to leave it run on its own. That is not to say God couldn’t walk away if he wanted to, but rather that if he did, everything would go *Poof!* and simply stop existing. We need God! He “gives life to everything…”

This reality, that God is the source of life, changes how we see things.

Instead of imagining ourselves lost, alone, and forgotten, it helps to know that we are “in the sight of God.” Always.

Even when we are hurting, or someone is hurting us, God knows.

Do you think God likes to see us hurting each other? No, of course not. That is the real irony of life. When people want to know, “Why is there evil in the world?,” all we have to do is look in the mirror and see “evil” looking right back at us.

This is why God commands us to love (Matthew 22:37-40).

First, to love him, because he is love (1 John 4:8). Secondly, because if we are loving our neighbor, we are not going to be hurting them.

Application: Love (agapē).

Food for Thought: What happens when people imagine that God is not watching?

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August 8, 2026July 29, 2026

1 Timothy 6:12b – The Gift

Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Summary: It is helpful to remember that two things can be true at the same time.

It is easy to read this passage as encouragement. In fact, I am certain that is how Paul meant it. He just finished describing the “fight” that Timothy is to seek out. Not a “fight” like a conflict between people, but the challenge of accomplishing a task greater than any human competition: staying true to our Lord Jesus Christ, no matter what.

Now, in this passage, Paul says, “Take hold of the eternal life….”

Do you know what bothers me about this? It seems to conflict with Paul’s other teachings about faith:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Do you see the difference?

On the one hand, Paul says, “Take hold,” as if we have to do something to earn eternal life. On the other, he says salvation is “the gift of God… so that no one can boast.”

What is going on here?

Centuries before Paul wrote his letter, the prophet Malachi, speaking for God, says:

“Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.” (Malachi 3:7)

Later, another Apostle, James, would write something similar:

“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)

There is a bit of a paradox at work here. God is unchanging (Hebrews 6:17), so it is up to us to respond to him. We can reject him or embrace him, but he will not be ignored.

Salvation is indeed a gift, as Paul says, but what do we do when someone gives us a gift? Do we say, “Put it on the floor and I’ll get to it later?,” or do we say, “Thank you!” and reach out to accept it?

To receive the gift, we have to accept it. When we unwrap it and open the box, when we discover that the gift is eternal life, we have to “take hold” of it if we want to have it.

Application: Accept God’s gift. Reach out and take it!

Food for Thought: What happens when a person ‘takes hold’ of eternal life?

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August 7, 2026July 29, 2026

1 Timothy 6:12a – Faith Fight

Fight the good fight of the faith.

Summary: Fighting the good fight may not be the kind of “fight” you are thinking of.

I love these pithy short sentences that Paul occasionally uses. They are a nice break from the struggle of analyzing his paragraph-long sentences that hurt my brain.

“Fight the good fight” is a saying you have probably heard at some point in your life. I know my dad used to say that occasionally when I was a kid. (Now we know where the saying comes from!)

The question now is, “What kind of ‘fight’ was Paul referring to?”

When I think of the word “fight,” my mind tends to go to the idea of defending myself or my family. I’ve known people who seem to be looking for a fight, but I am not one of them. So, the kind of ‘fight’ that comes to mind for me is the kind I am usually hoping to avoid.

I am also a bit conflicted about the word “fight,” because Jesus seems to preach against it.

Remember the Beatitudes? (Matthew 5:3-10)

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (v 5)

And this one:

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (v 7)

And then there was this one:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (v 9)

Of course, you remember this famous teaching of Jesus:

”But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” (Matthew 5:39)

So what is Paul talking about?

It turns out that the particular Greek words he used are specific to striving to win a contest. He doesn’t mean fighting in a literal sense. Instead, he is talking about thinking of faith as a championship match. Pick your sport! It could be any kind of a physical contest. They all require the same things: An arena, a beginning and an end, officials to decide the winner, and an audience who is watching.

Our “arena” is this life in the body, the physical realm. The beginning is when we accept God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. The “contest” is to remain faithful to Jesus during all the days of our lives. The “winner” is the one who is faithful to the end. And the audience?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Application: Strive to remain faithful in all you think, do, and say.

Food for Thought: What is it about a “fight” that makes it a good analogy for the point Paul is making?

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August 6, 2026July 29, 2026

1 Timothy 6:11 (Part 6) – Gentleness

Picture of mother's hand holding baby's hand (Pixabay)

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

Summary: Gentleness is not the same as weakness.

The concept of gentleness is a tough one to translate from Greek. Paul used the word “praotēs,” which implies humility.* What is a bit confusing is that earlier Paul was telling Timothy to “command certain people” and “command and teach these things.”

How is he supposed to “command” people on one hand, and be “humble” on the other?

One of the amazing things about the Bible is that there are so many examples like this one, where two seeming contradictory things are both true.

On the one hand, commanding people doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be rude. It is entirely possible to be firm and at the same time meek.

On the other hand, being gentle doesn’t equate to being milquetoast. A gentle person can still be firm.

Gentleness, then, is not weakness. It doesn’t mean we stand down when things don’t go God’s way.

Jesus is a good example.

People like to point to Jesus clearing the temple courtyard with a whip as a picture of “angry Jesus.” But the Bible does not say he was angry. After clearing the temple courts, John writes:

“His disciples remembered that it is written: ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’” (John 2:17)

Jesus was zealous for his Father’s house.

Was he gentle?

By God’s standards, yes. He could have had the ground open up as in the days of Korah† and swallow all the vendors and money changers, but he didn’t.

Compared to what he could have done, he was being very gentle.

Application: Remember, when looking to Jesus as an example, we are not God.

Food for Thought: How does gentleness affect conflict in the church?

*”G4236 – praotēs – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NIV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 27 Jul, 2026. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4236/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.

† Numbers 16

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August 5, 2026August 5, 2026

1 Timothy 6:11 (Part 5) – Endurance

Picture of a farm road and barbed wire fence. (Grok)

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

Summary: Endurance is one of those things that really boils down to an act of will.

My high school track coach was a tall man — about six feet five inches. When it came to running, you might say he had a ‘leg up’ on me. Those long legs of his could cover a lot of ground, and he made it look easy.

I was not an athlete. Still, I had signed up for cross-country in high school, and that is how I found myself running a practice run through the back country of the small logging community I lived in.

It was a hot afternoon, and we were running a full course for a timed practice. I was lagging behind as usual, and the farm road was as boring as it was long. Just as I was contemplating slowing down, the coach came up from behind and jogged alongside me for a bit. I remember complaining that I was getting tired, and he asked a simple question: “Can you make it to that next fence post?”

I looked at the post about a hundred feet away and said, “Yeah, I can make that.”

“Good,” he said,“ then do it again for the next one.

So I did. And you know what? I did it for the next one, too. And when I made it back to the town park and crossed the finish line, I discovered I had run my best time ever.

When I see the word “endurance,” that memory of running all those years ago is where my mind goes. I really wanted to give up, but the coach came along and helped me refocus on what I was supposed to be doing.

It worked.

I think Paul is doing the same thing for Timothy and you and me.

Living the Christian life isn’t always easy. It is tempting to want to give up being nice to others and loving neighbors as God loves me, but then along comes Paul and says, “Can you make it to the end of the day?”

“Yeah, I can do that.”

“Good. Do it. And then do it again tomorrow.”

Application: Keep your eyes on Coach Jesus.

Food for Thought: How does it feel to endure and break through a mental barrier?

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August 4, 2026July 28, 2026

1 Timothy 6:11 (Part 4) – Love

A crystal heart with a Cross in the center (Grok)

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

Summary: Love, the poet says, is a ‘many splendored thing.’ Yet when it comes to describing what those ‘splendors’ are, we sometimes get stuck.

One thing we can be fairly confident of when we focus on Paul’s advice to Timothy is that he wasn’t suggesting Timothy pursue romantic love.

Sometimes, of course, it is the other way around. Romantic love pursues the man! Many a young pastor has discovered that they are more popular with the fair sex than they could have imagined. Sometimes even older ones fall victim to this trap. (Satan isn’t proud when it comes to subverting God’s church. There is nothing he will not stoop to.)

The kind of “love” Paul recommends pursuing is quite different.

When we talk about the love Paul is referring to, it is easy to ‘zone out’ and let our minds wander to some other topic. Godly love can sound ‘churchy’ and maybe even a bit stuffy. After all, we are talking about a God who has been around a long, long time and who in ancient times was responsible for plagues, people dying in battle, and sending Jesus to the cross.

Maybe if we substitute “nice” for the word “love,” God will let us get by with that.

The word Paul actually used is, of course, the Greek word “agapē.” Agapē is often referred to as “godly love” to set it apart from other forms of love. It includes affection but runs very deep in terms of being willing to make sacrifices for the one you love.

One way to think of agapē is as a kind of ‘selfless love.’

This makes sense when we consider the two Great Commandments as Jesus summarized them.* The first is to love God above all else, including yourself. This means that we put God’s will above our own. Interestingly, putting God first guarantees our thoughts and actions will reflect his love because “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

The second Great Commandment does something similar. It simply says we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Here again we sacrifice putting ourselves first so that we can treat our neighbors as God would have them treated.

Application: Love well.

Food for Thought: What does loving our neighbor look like?

* Matthew 22:37-40

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