II Timothy 2:1-26 Phygelus and Hermogenes… (v. 1:15b) and Hymenaeus and Philetus. (v. 2:17b) In two chapters Paul mentions four people, with two sets of similar names and with similar charges against them (…turned away from me… (1:15) and …swerved from the truth… (2:18). Is this really one set of two names? Maybe Paul is …
Author Archives: Fred
November 11 / II Timothy 1:1-18
II Timothy 1:1-18 Who was Onesiphorus? I’m surprised that I did not search this question last year. An online article said that “St. Onesiphorus was bishop at Colophon (Asia Minor), and later at Corinth. Both the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches hold that he died a martyr in the city of Parium (not far from …
November 10 / Titus 2:1-3:15
Titus 2:1-3:15 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are useless and worthless. Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning… (vv. 3:9-10) I have been in many small group discussions and Bible studies. Occasionally these groups have included some people who were strongly antagonistic …
November 9 / Titus 1:1-16
Titus 1:1-16 [An overseer must] … be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it. (v. 9b) I find that I am able to “preach the gospel” (when the occasion arises), but I’ve never been good at responding to negative responses. I’ve heard that the best testimony that we …
November 8 / I Timothy 6:1-21
I Timothy 6:1-21 In Ben’s first sermon at St. Andrew’s he said something like “Jesus is so much more than anything we can imagine.” Paul is saying the same thing here: [Jesus] is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, …
November 7 / I Timothy 5:1-25
I Timothy 5:1-25 I have learned to share Jesus in small ways as often as it is reasonable. One such time is when someone performs a service for me/us, like a plumber or a mechanic. For those folks it’s reasonable to offer a tip – an add-on to a bill or a $5 or a …
November 6 / I Timothy 4:1-16
I Timothy 4:1-16 Keep a close watch on yourself…(v. 16a). I think Paul is talking here about responsibility and accountability. We are responsible to ourselves to keep that “close watch”, which is, in effect, our self-control. One way to keep that close watch on ourselves is to allow ourselves to be accountable to another individual …
November 5 / I Timothy 3:1-16
I Timothy 3:1-16 There are a couple of items that stand out for me in Paul’s qualifications for the office of overseer. First, He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive… (v. 4b) This …keeping his children submissive… I remember that when I was growing up I learned the …
November 4 / I Timothy 2:1-15
I Timothy 2:1-15 Although the second paragraph in today’s reading (vv. 8-15) is mostly about women, I was struck by verse 8: I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling… I wondered what it was about Ephesus (Timothy’s church at that time) that made for …
November 3 / I Timothy 1:1-20
I Timothy 1:1-20 Paul often refers to himself (specifically or in general terms) as an “apostle to the Gentiles”. But in the following verse I see him very much as an apostle to the Jews also. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me … Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as …