Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
[The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith] and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
Summary: Paul points back to the origin of deception to help us see the danger of listening to anything other than Christ.
In our last meditation, “For or Against?,” we explored two possible views about what “abandon the faith” might mean.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 4:1b – Calling Jesus”
[He] was taken up in glory.
Summary: To be ‘taken up in glory’ suggests that someone was there to give glory to Jesus. Who, what, and how become the quest in this meditation.
The last line of Paul’s poetic description of “the mystery from which true godliness springs” is that Jesus was “taken up in glory.”
Continue reading “1 Timothy 3:16g – Glory, Glory! “
[He] was seen by angels…
Summary: As we drill down into this passage, the idea of being seen by angels expands our appreciation of who Jesus is and what he has done.
Have you ever been seen by an angel?
I ask that question because to understand what Paul is saying here, we need to know the answer.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 3:16d – Seen by Angels”
He appeared in the flesh…
Summary: There are probably a million things to say about Jesus appearing in the flesh. We will focus on just a few.
At the perfect point in history, the following conversation took place in a small town half way between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee:
Continue reading “1 Timothy 3:16b – God’s Son”
Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
Summary: Paul is pointing us to a ‘mystery’ that only God understands the answer to. For our part, it is enough to see and believe.
It must be a challenge, even for God, to communicate with us. After all, God is an eternal being (Psalm 90:4). His ‘living memory’ spans all of time. He created everything there is (Genesis 1:1), which means that even our highest form of math and the farthest reaches of our science barely scratch the surface of God’s knowledge.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 3:16a – Unusual Clarity”
Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Summary: Paul addresses a question that often haunts the believer’s mind.
I was in a Bible class the other day, and one of the people there asked if people can lose their salvation.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 3:13 – The Path to Assurance”
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”
… 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”
I urge, then…
Summary: The first three words of chapter two require that we stitch together the threads of Paul’s letter so far so that we can see the whole tapestry.
A lot is going on in this passage, and we will examine several parts of it in detail. For now, let’s look at the first three words, “I urge, then…”
Continue reading “1 Timothy 2:1a – How We Fight”