Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)
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Scratching
the Surface of 1 & 2 Timothy
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When I received
the September/October 2013 catalogue for Christianbook Distributors, I was
stunned by the headline offering on page 1. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, 10
volumes (9081 pages), edited by Gerhard Kittel, considered the granddaddy of
all Greek dictionaries, was on sale for $99.99 after I bought it almost 40
years ago for nearly a grand.
On the other
hand, I gave it to a seminarian a few years ago when I discovered I had been
spending more time in books than on the book when the book is pretty easy to get when it's just read;
and believing it is inspired - God-breathed
- it is the best way to encounter who He is, what He has done, and
what He expects of us as His.
It's kinda like
we say at the end of just about all worship services on the corner of Lincoln
and Main in Belvidere, Illinois, "The answer to every question is
Jesus."
While I don't
need to flesh that out for the folks in our family of faith, I probably do for
some others: "The answer to every question is Jesus as attested in the
Bible."
In short, our
best mentor for life and ministry from here to eternity is Jesus; or as Paul
often urged, "Be imitators of me as
I am an imitator of Jesus."
Paul's letters to
Timothy require comprehension in this context.
Paul is mentoring
Timothy as a Christian called to undershepherding
after the perfect pattern of the Good Shepherd Jesus: "The saying is
trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received
mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display
His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for
eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God,
be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. This charge I entrust to
you, Timothy..."
While Paul's
letters often touch on many topics, with these mentoring letters to Timothy
being no exception to that style, here's an abbreviated list of some of the
advice offered by the older undershepherd
to the younger one.
* Pray: "First of
all,...I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be
made for all people...that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, Godly and
dignified in every way." He never shied away from direct counsel;
yet knew there are often times when it's more prudent and productive to talk to
God about someone than to talk to someone about God.
* Recalling how Elihu
was used by God to counsel Job and his friends despite being youth-filled, Paul
reminds Timothy that it is His Spirit in us more than our age that matters most
in life and ministry: "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the
believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."
* Put God's virtues
first in life and ministry: "Rightly handle the word of truth...avoid
irreverent babble...Have nothing to do with ignorant controversies...that breed
quarrels...teach faithfully and endure patiently...correct...lead to a
knowledge of the truth...and they may come to their senses and escape the snare
of the devil..."
* Disciple or teach
Christianity by example, exhortation, and example: "Manage yourself in
obedience to Him...[for]...in later times, some will depart from the
faith...preach the word...reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience
and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound
teaching; but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers
to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and
wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, enduring
suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."
* Share the reward of
remaining faithful: "The time of my departure has come. I have
fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the
faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who
have loved His appearing."
Surely, Paul's
greatest reward as a mentor is knowing his student will follow him to glory; or
as John put it, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are
walking in the truth."
Paul understood a
basic axiom of undershepherding
that he passed on to Timothy to prepare him to overcome false teachers, false
witnesses, inauthenticity, apostasy, and self-destructive instincts: shepherds don't follow sheep and true
shepherds of Christianity know they are only undershepherds to the Good
Shepherd Jesus.
Simply,
summarily, and definitely, Jesus is the answer to every question by the book.
That's mentoring
by the Master and His manual.
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...to be continued...
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Blessings and Love!
2 comments:
Top notch!
My summary of Paul's letters (including those to his protege'): "It's ALL about Jesus!"
Or, as I like to say,
Christ IS All!
Bob,
Yes, indeed! Jesus is the only answer!
Love you,
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