Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“But you have faithfully followed my teaching, way of life, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra, what sort of persecutions I endured, and the Lord delivered me from all of them. And indeed, all those who want to live in a godly manner in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil people and imposters will progress to the worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you continue in the things which you have learned and are convinced of, because you^[a] know from whom you learned them, and that from childhood you have known the holy writings that are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, in order that the person of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:10-17)

Chapter three continues the theme of difficult times by speaking about what makes the coming times perilous: humanity will love itself more than the truth (2 Timothy 3:1-9). This continued falling away from God – which is humanity’s bad habit – will continue (it has since Paul’s time and continues today). When ungodly behaviour flourishes, they always seek to remove godly behaviour to soothe their consciences. Paul then starts going into what makes the godly man the godly man: a trust in God’s Word. ALL scripture is good, useful, and is meant to correct us (we no longer have to rely on the Law for correction, but the Word as a whole all agrees on what is godly behaviour).

Chapter four tells us what to do with the Word that we are trusting, studying, and relying on to inform our own behaviour: preach it to the World. Get it out there where can shine for others. Our lives are meant to be mirrors of the Word. Mirrors of godly behaviour that we copy from Jesus Himself. Others need to see that. They NEED the truth as a witness to them. Paul closes with some instructions and hope for visitation – not just from Timothy, but also from John Mark. Luke appears to the only companion currently sticking with Paul and it is weighing on him. He greets some specific members of the church with joy and closes with a blessing.

“On account of this, I left you behind in Crete, in order that what remains may be set in order and you may appoint elders in every town, as I ordered you. If anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of dissipation or rebellious. For it is necessary for the overseer to be blameless as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, prudent, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast to the faithful message according to the teaching, in order that he may be able both to exhort with sound instruction and to reprove those who speak against it.” (Titus 1:5-9)

Paul wrote this letter to Titus – who had a similar assignment to Timothy – in Macedonia around 63 AD. It is VERY useful to read this letter along with the letters to Timothy because they are all three pastoral letters and all touch on the idea of appointing elders as well as godliness. Titus was a Gentile, and Timothy was a Jew (with a Greek father) and that seems to be the basis of the minor differences between the two men’s letters from Paul.

Paul makes a definite connection between trust and the knowledge of trust which leads to godliness. A godly person welcomes. They welcome others to the presence of God and they welcome them into their communities. The guests come first. Paul stresses that godly people uphold and support the Messianic gospel of Jesus. It is an active holding to the truth, not a passive sitting and listening. Paul shows that testimony to the truth of the gospel message grows out of a godly person. It is the fruit of revelation that points to the truth. The behaviour of godly people is the evidence that the message they actively uphold is truthful and trustworthy.

Paul opens chapter one with greetings and then goes into the qualifications for elders in the church. They are a little different than the ones in Timothy’s letters, probably because of the slight differences in lifestyle and culture between Jews and Gentiles. However, they mesh together on all the major principles of a godly leader.

If we have godly leaders, the congregation that supports them and is fed by them should also be godly. Chapter two are Paul’s instructions on how to lead a godly life in a church environment.

In chapter three Paul speaks to the life of godly people in the world’s society. How to – and in what circumstances – obedience to the government is appropriate. If you chafe at that thinking times are different, spend some time thinking about what type of government Rome had and who establishes human authority in the first place. We don’t always want to, but unless they are commanding against God or His moral character, we really have no reason to actively disobey – but every right to be involved in politics or government and lawfully make our voices and morals heard. Paul then exhorts them to not waste their time on foolish arguments. This is the same kind of foolishness the disciples got up to during Jesus’ earthly ministry arguing about who was greatest (Luke 22:24-30). We let ourselves get distracted from serious issues and proper behaviour (loving each other) by getting all hepped up about things that matter to no one. Paul then closes the letter with a few final instructions and a blessing.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Paul

Key Verse(s): 2 Timothy 3:10-17; 4:16-18; Titus 1:10-16; 2:1-8; 3:3-11