Tag: life

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2 Timothy 1:1b – Been There Done That

Jesus and Nicodemus converse at night (Grok)

… according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus…

Summary: Paul’s wording in this passage gives us a reason to pause and ponder.   

Paul doesn’t waste any time in this letter. Already, before the ink is dry on his first sentence, I have questions about what he is saying. At least this time I am not alone! 

Translators have issues with this sentence, too. The translation used for the passage above is the World English Bible (WEB). The NIV says it almost the same way: 

“…in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus…”

The Darby Translation says it a bit differently and may capture the intent of the Greek better than most: 

“Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ by God’s will, according to promise of life, the [life] which [is] in Christ Jesus…”

Let’s go with this translation for now. What is the life which is in Christ Jesus? Jesus says: 

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.” (John 11:25, WEB)

There is a technical phrase for what this sentence does to the human brain. It is “cognitive dissonance.” A more colloquial way to put it would be, “Jesus, you grind my gears!” 

How can I still live, even if I die?

It turns out that there are two kinds of life and death. The one we all know about is the kind of life we have when our body is working well, and the death we experience when the body stops working. But what about our inner self? What about the invisible, spiritual, personal “ME” that is inside of me and is where my thinking and feelings occur? 

The invisible part of us doesn’t just go out when we die, like blowing out a candle. Instead, it continues to exist only without the complications of a physical body. How do I know this? 

The best evidence is Jesus Christ himself. That he lived two thousand years ago is not contested. Some people claim that he didn’t really die on the cross, but the evidence that he did is overwhelming. Nobody survives being whipped to near death, crucified, and then run through to the heart with a lance. 

It is Jesus himself who provides evidence of life after death, and it is his conversation with Nicodemus that explains why he knows: 

“ I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.” (John 3:12-13)

He has “been there, done that,” as they say. 

Application: Trust Jesus—he knows! 

Food for Thought: What does the word “life” mean the way Paul is using it in his sentence? 

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1 Timothy 6:19b – True Life

A father embraces his son on the road home (Grok)

…so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Summary: The difference between life and life that is “truly life” is stark, but we can only see it if we look at life the way Jesus sees it.   

One of the things about the Bible that I find fascinating is the depth of meaning behind the words. When Paul writes “the life that is truly life,” he is referring to something that is either blindingly obvious or stunningly opaque. Whether you see it or not depends entirely on your relationship with God. 

Adam and Eve faced the same conundrum. They had the “life” that was “truly life,” but didn’t appreciate it (the same was true for ancient Israel). Jesus explains what Paul means in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). 

In the parable, a man has two sons. One demands his inheritance early, before his father even dies, and takes off for the Big City. He squanders his money and becomes destitute. The father, meanwhile, is mourning the loss of his son. From his perspective, the son is “dead” (vs 24, 32). 

Do you see the conundrum? The son is still “alive,” but he is separated from the father. To the father, the son is “dead.” 

When the son realizes that he is facing death, he decides to return home, not as a son but as a servant. He apparently realizes that he has given up any claim to sonship. He starts for home, but before he even arrives, his father sees him and meets him on the road (v 20). At this point, the father announces that the son who was dead is now alive (v 24). 

The son who was “dead” was never really “dead” in the story. Yet, until he returned to a relationship with his father, he was considered dead. 

We are no different from the prodigal son in the story. 

If we do not acknowledge our Father in heaven, we are “dead” to him. If we do, we become “alive” with the life that is “truly life.” 

God knows that we cannot make it back to him on our own, so he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to meet us on the road. If you haven’t already, get to know Jesus. He will change your life from one that is “dead” to one that is ‘truly alive.’

Application: True life is found in Jesus.  

Food for Thought: How do we know if we have taken hold of “true life” or not? 

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1 Timothy 6:4b – Words as Weapons

Two medieval knights sword fight - the swords are marked with the words "LIFE" and "DEATH." (Grok)

They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words…

Summary: Paul’s comment about words provides us with a powerful insight into the importance of meaning.   

What is the opposite of a “quarrel about words…”? 

Words are the building blocks of language. Language is the bridge that connects one mind with another. The words we choose and how we use them are the key to unlocking understanding and unity. 

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1 Timothy 1:16c – The Way Home

Picture of St. Paul standing by the side of the road with a sign that says "This Way Home." (Grok)

…and receive eternal life.

Summary: Taking a closer look at Paul’s words, we take a moment to review what it means to have eternal life.   

Jesus called Paul to be an Apostle — one who is “sent” to teach others about the kingdom of God. We might not ever be called to appear before a king in this life, but we will in the next, and we need to understand what is involved so that we can be prepared. 

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Philippians 3:10c-11 – The Unthinkable

Photograph of Auguste Rodin's statue called "The Thinker." (Pixabay)

… becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Summary: Paul’s words about “attaining to the resurrection from the dead” lead us to consider how we get to the point where we can actually understand what he is talking about.   

For some reason, people don’t like to think about death. 

People have different reactions to the topic. Some of us obsess about death, some ignore it or make jokes about it. Human psychology has a variety of ways to deal with the unthinkable. 

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Philippians 3:9b – Going Home

Picture of a compass showing "Right" for North and "Wrong" for South (Grok)

… not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law…

Summary: Righteousness can mean a lot of different things depending on whose righteousness you are talking about.   

What happens if we have a righteousness of our own?

Many years ago, I worked for a man who claimed there was “no right or wrong—only shades of gray.” It was frustrating because this meant he was always “right” and I was always “wrong.”

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Philippians 1:26a – Fighting Fear

Picture of a small child dressed as a boxer (Pixabay)

… without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. 

Summary: Paul’s words in this passage touch on a nerve that everyone has experience with: fear. 

To get the context for this passage, let’s step back and take a look at Paul’s entire thought: 

“… I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.”

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Philippians 1:25 – What About Him?

Picture: Peter asks Jesus about John (John 21:20-21)

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you…

Summary: As we read the words of the Bible, it is easy to jump to conclusions. Jesus’ disciples did the same thing. Yet, if we step back from the words it becomes easier to see the meaning. 

Paul is convinced that it is necessary for him to remain “in the body.” In the passage for our meditation, he affirms this when he tells the Philippians, “I know that I will remain.” 

Paul is smart. He understands that the timing of his “departure” is not his to choose (Matthew 25:13, Luke 12:13-21). When he says, “I know that I will remain,” he is most likely relaying his conviction that God wants him to remain. 

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