Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.
Summary: Paul’s claim of being a herald, apostle, and teacher requires that we decide whether or not to believe him.
How do we know what Paul is saying is true? He says he is telling the truth! He even tells us, “I am not lying…” Are you convinced?
Continue reading “1 Timothy 2:7 – Wild Claims”
This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
Summary: While different translators handle this passage in different ways, the key concepts of timing and validation remain clear.
This verse, 1 Timothy 2:6, is one of the passages that translators struggle with. Let’s look at a few of the many variations:
Continue reading “1 Timothy 2:6b – In God’s Time”
… who gave himself as a ransom for all people.
Summary: Understanding biblical concepts can be a challenge. We don’t often pay a ransom, but we do occasionally pawn something, and the two are very similar.
If the Gospel is so simple, why does it always sound complicated?
Paul has just finished saying that we should pray to God because it pleases him. Then he adds that God wants all people to be saved and know the truth. After that, Paul adds that in addition to God, there is a mediator, Christ Jesus, “who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”
Continue reading “1 Timothy 2:6a – Pawn Shop”
… and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
Summary: In this passage, Paul describes Jesus as a “mediator.” The word suggests a relationship between God and mankind that is more than we deserve.
Why would God need a mediator? Isn’t he God? Is there anything he can’t do?
Continue reading “1 Timothy 2:5b – We Call Him Jesus”
For there is one God …
Summary: As Paul begins his description of God’s salvation for mankind, he starts with the most difficult truth of all: There is only one God.
Paul has just said that God wants all people to be saved and know the truth. Now he begins to tell us what that truth is.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 2:5a – Only One”
[This is good, and pleases God our Savior,] … who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Summary: Paul’s words to Timothy are among the most hopeful and inspiring in all of the Bible.
Perhaps there is no better description of Jesus’ reason for being born a man and dying on the cross than this passage: [God our Savior]… “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
Continue reading “1 Timothy 2:4 – Knowing Jesus”
… and pleases God our Savior …
Summary: Pleasing God often sounds like a daunting task, yet our God is pleased when we simply trust him with our prayers.
If you were God, what would please you?
I suppose that is a rather silly question, but asking it helps us put ourselves in God’s position. If we were God, would we want our creation to please us, or would we have to compromise and “settle for” whatever our creation decided to do?
Continue reading “1 Timothy 2:3b – Simple Pleasures”
This is good …
Summary: The concept of “good and evil” or “good and bad” is central to what the Bible is all about.
Reading Paul’s letter to Timothy is not really like reading someone else’s mail. Paul’s words to Timothy are also intended for us. We are the real audience he was writing for. In the same way, it is not really Paul who wrote the letter — God is the real author (2 Timothy 3:16). This is important because if it is God’s Word we are reading, then the phrase “This is good…” takes on special meaning.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 2:3a – Taste and See”
… that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Summary: Paul’s words summarize the goal of Christianity: the absence of conflict, pain, and suffering.
A chess game is, in a sense, a model of life in miniature. It begins with a field of play, the chessboard, and revolves around a struggle between two opposing forces. The game begins with an “opening,” and continues with most of the action happening in the “middle game.” Finally, after many battles and strategic moves, there are only a few pieces left. If one side can conquer the other side’s king, the struggle is over, and peace is achieved. This is called the “end game.”
Continue reading “1 Timothy 2:2b – The End Game”
[I urge … that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made]… for kings and all those in authority…
Summary: Is God really in charge? Paul’s admonition to pray for all those in authority is both a command and a test of our faith.
At this point in our meditations on Chapter Two, we have looked at how we as Christians fight, who (or what) our enemy is, the three types of prayers (petitions, prayers, and intercessions), and the meaning of being thankful. Now, instead of generally praying for all people, we are focusing on “kings and all those in authority.”
Continue reading “1 Timothy 2:2a – Head and Neck”