#The Epistle of Second Timothy

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Grace that is in Christ Jesus

You then, Timothy, my child, be strong in the grace we have in Christ Jesus. — 2 Timothy 2:1 | Expanded Bible (EXB) The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved. Cross References: Joshua 1:6-9; Psalm 27:14; Psalm 31:24; Isaiah 40:29-31; Zechariah 4:6; Romans 5:2; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Ephesians 6:10; Colossians 1:11; Philippians 4:13; Hebrews 13:9; 1 Timothy 1:12; 1 Timothy 6:12; 1 Peter 5:10

Read full chapter

Notes: 2 Timothy 2:1, which reads "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus," encourages Timothy to be empowered and strengthened through the grace of God in Christ. Paul, as a mentor to Timothy, emphasizes that Timothy's strength comes from reliance on God's grace, not from his own abilities.

[aprillikesthings]

Reading the book of Romans for my religion class.

And in the middle of a bunch of confusing-to-me metaphors, Paul is like "I'm speaking with ordinary metaphors because of your limitations." (CEB translation, 6:19)

First of all: rude. Second of all: yeah they were probably "ordinary metaphors" to people at the time lol

He's also weirdly relatable sometimes (7:18-19): "The desire to do good is inside of me, but I can’t do it. I don’t do the good that I want to do, but I do the evil that I don’t want to do."

Yeah dude. I feel that.

Romans has both some of the worst shit in it (that section used against gay people, the whole "elect" business people turned into Calvinism) but it also has some of the most moving lines in the whole fucking bible, from 8:38-39:

"I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created."

"But April, why tf are you posting this to your main and not your religion sideblog" I mean, I am going to reblog it there.

But because ch9 has the line that's quoted in She-Ra, that Horde Prime says through Catra before pitching her off the platform to her (temporary) death. The wording is different because I'm using the CEB, but yeah.

19 You will say to me then, “Why then does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who indeed are you, a human, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one object for special use and another for ordinary use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath that are made for destruction, 23 and what if he has done so in order to make known the riches of his glory for the objects of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 including us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the gentiles?

(Couldn't find a gif of the actual line, so have the one from right before it.)

Yeah, Paul could say some unpleasant stuff sometimes, or at least things that have been interpreted in unpleasant ways--like I'm not the only one to look at those verses and think he's speaking metaphorically, I don't think he's saying that there are people God made just to send to hell as an example to the rest of us.

But the church ND Stevenson grew up in was hardcore Calvinist, and they looooove that whole "God decided whether you were saved or not before you were born and you can do nothing about it." (Most churches, side note, do not teach this. Mine doesn't.)

Someone else has already done a really great explanation of how Catra's story, specifically, is a refutation of some of the shittier parts of Calvinism, so I won't do it here.

But oh man one of the things that comes up in Romans, REPEATEDLY, is "don't judge other people, don't act like you're better than other people." Amazing how few people remember THAT part.

ALSO and this always cracks me up when people insist that the epistles are the literal word of God: most of ch16 is "Say hi to my friend so'n'so!" like there's a long list of friends and family members. And the next paragraph is "Oh and Timothy says hi!" pfft

[emptyjanitor]

New testament authorship

Let’s break down directly and clearly, sticking strictly to the scholarly consensus and historical facts about the New Testament’s authorship, why American mainstream Christianity often doesn’t teach this, and what the Bible actually is.

1. Factual Authorship of the New Testament

Scholarly consensus—meaning mainstream, non-fundamentalist academic biblical studies—has long since established that most New Testament books are either anonymous or pseudonymous. Here’s a summary of the best evidence for each:

The Gospels

• Matthew, Mark, Luke, John:

None of the gospels name their authors in the original texts. The names were assigned later, likely in the second century, to give the texts apostolic authority.

• Mark: The earliest gospel. Author is unknown; traditionally attributed to “Mark,” but no evidence supports this.

• Matthew: Anonymous. Tradition credits “Matthew,” but the text copies much from Mark (odd for an eyewitness apostle).

• Luke: Anonymous. Author was educated, not an eyewitness, probably a companion of Paul, but not necessarily named “Luke.”

• John: Anonymous. Tradition attributes it to John the Apostle, but the text itself never says this, and internal evidence suggests it wasn’t written by a direct eyewitness.

Pauline Epistles

• Undisputed letters of Paul: Scholars are confident Paul wrote seven letters: Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, Philemon.

• Deutero-Pauline letters (disputed authorship): Ephesians, Colossians, 2 Thessalonians. Most scholars think these were written by followers of Paul in his name.

• Pastoral Epistles: 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus. Overwhelming scholarly consensus: written long after Paul’s death, by unknown authors using his name.

• Hebrews: Anonymous. The text itself never claims Paul as author, and the Greek style and theology are very different from Paul’s letters.

Other Letters

• James: Anonymous; attributed to “James,” but which James? There were several. Highly unlikely the brother of Jesus wrote it.

• 1 & 2 Peter: Almost universally agreed by scholars that Peter did not write these, especially 2 Peter, which is clearly pseudonymous.

• 1, 2, 3 John: Anonymous. 2 & 3 John are brief and refer to “the elder.” No evidence these were written by John the Apostle.

• Jude: Claims to be by “Jude, the brother of James,” but there’s no way to verify this, and the letter is highly stylized.

Revelation

• Revelation: Claims authorship by “John,” but it’s almost certainly not the same John as the gospel, given radically different Greek, theology, and style.

⸻

2. Why American Mainstream Christianity Is Unfamiliar With This

Several reasons explain the gap between academic knowledge and mainstream Christian belief:

A. Tradition and Catechism

• Churches teach tradition, not historical criticism. Sunday school, sermons, and even many seminaries rely on inherited attributions (Matthew wrote Matthew, etc.) because these give the texts apostolic authority and reinforce doctrinal unity.

B. Institutional Interests

• The church’s power and authority rest on the idea that scripture is divinely inspired, authoritative, and connected directly to Jesus and his apostles. Admitting most books are anonymous, pseudonymous, or written generations later could undermine confidence and religious authority.

C. Anti-Intellectualism and Distrust of Academia

• Many American denominations (especially Evangelical and Fundamentalist branches) view “secular scholarship” with suspicion, seeing it as hostile to faith. Academic biblical criticism is often dismissed as biased, “worldly,” or “faithless.”

D. Lack of Religious Literacy

• Most Christians don’t read the Bible deeply, let alone read critical scholarship. Religious education in the U.S. is shallow; most believers simply inherit beliefs from family and community.

E. Publishing and Media

• Christian publishers, bookstores, and media overwhelmingly promote traditional views. Scholarly works rarely reach the mass audience, and if they do, they’re often denounced as heretical.

⸻

3. What the Bible Actually Is (Factually)

The Bible Is:

• A Human Anthology: The Bible is a collection of ancient texts, written by dozens of different people over many centuries. The New Testament was written in Greek, by Jews and Gentiles in the eastern Roman Empire, between roughly 50 CE and 120 CE.

• A Library, Not a Book: It’s not a single book, but an anthology—each “book” with its own agenda, context, style, and theology.

• Anonymous or Pseudonymous Works: The vast majority of its books do not name their authors. Most names attached to biblical books (Moses, Matthew, etc.) are traditions, not claims made by the texts themselves.

• Edited and Redacted: Many biblical books were edited, redacted, or compiled from earlier sources, both oral and written. Some gospels and epistles were likely revised over time.

• Political and Theological Documents: Each book has its own agenda. Some gospels and letters were written to address controversies, define orthodoxy, or combat rival Christian sects.

• Product of Historical Communities: The texts reflect the beliefs, hopes, struggles, and politics of various early Christian communities, not a unified, consistent message.

⸻

4. What the Bible Is Not

• Not Dictated by God: There is no evidence any part was directly dictated by God to a scribe. Even the writers themselves rarely claim this.

• Not Eyewitness History: The gospels are not eyewitness accounts. They were written decades after the events they describe, drawing on oral traditions and earlier sources.

• Not Consistent or Inerrant: The Bible is full of contradictions, differing theologies, and even mutually exclusive accounts (see the resurrection narratives, genealogies of Jesus, and chronology of Paul’s life).

• Not Frozen or Unchanging: The canon itself was debated for centuries, with books being added and removed. The version Protestants use is different from Catholic and Orthodox canons.

⸻

5. Bottom Line

The New Testament is a messy, complex collection of ancient texts, written mostly by unknown authors, with competing theologies and purposes, reflecting the turbulent, diverse origins of Christianity. The myth that it is a single, unified, divinely authored, eyewitness record is a product of later tradition, religious politics, and the need for institutional authority—not historical reality.

[cal1-m3-ell3]

OC NAME TRANSLATION THAT NO ONE ASKED FOR :)

Meaning behind her (OC's) name Lois Deus, (roughly translates to “Superior God” or “Best Deity”- wanna put that on a mug?):

Lois:

The name Lois, of Greek origin, is believed to mean "superior" or "best" and is a name that first appeared in the New Testament.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Meaning: "Superior" or "best"

Origin: Greek

New Testament: The name Lois first appeared in the New Testament, specifically in the Second Epistle to Timothy, where Paul the Apostle mentions Lois, the pious grandmother of Saint Timothy.

Popularity: The name was popular, particularly in North America, during the first half of the 20th century.

Fictional Character: The name is also known to comic book fans as the name of the fictional character Lois Lane, the love interest of Superman. (A running joke is people asking if she knows Lois Lane by any coincidence- the answer is no.)

Deus:

The name "Deus" is of Latin origin and means "God" or "deity". It's a common Latin word used to refer to a divine being or power.

detailed breakdown:

Origin: Latin

Meaning: "God" or "deity"

Usage:

Used in Latin to refer to a deity or divine power.

In Late Latin, "Deus" came to be used mostly for the Christian God.

Inherited by Romance languages like Galician and Portuguese (Deus), Catalan and Sardinian (Déu), French and Occitan (Dieu), etc.

Also inherited by Celtic languages like Welsh (Duw) and Irish and Scottish Gaelic (Dia).

Variations: Some variations of the name Deus include Amadeus, Thadeus, and Thaddeus.

Related Terms:

"Deus" is related to the Proto-Indo-European root "deiwos," meaning "celestial" or "shining".

"Deus" is also related to the reconstructed chief god of the Proto-Indo-European pantheon, Dyēus.

She has two Nicknames, Isa or Dea (when used together as “Dea-Isa”, it roughly translates to “Goddess’ Gift” or “Goddess is / of Salvation”.) :

Isa:

In the context of the Arabic language and Islamic tradition, "Isa" (عِيسَى) is the Arabic name for Jesus, derived from the Hebrew name Yeshua, and signifies "God is salvation".

Detailed breakdown:

Arabic Name for Jesus:

"Isa" is the name used for Jesus in the Quran and other Islamic texts.

Meaning:

The name "Isa" can be interpreted as meaning "God is salvation" or "God's gift".

Origin:

It is derived from the Hebrew name Yeshua, which also means "God is salvation".

Islamic Context:

Isa is recognized as the Arabic name for Jesus Christ in Islamic tradition.

Other Contexts:

While its most common association is with the religious context, its meaning outside of this is generally linked to divine blessings, salvation, and gifts from God.

Ironic considering her love interest (Damian Wayne) is Arabic himself (Wink, Wink. …Okay, it was a genuine coincidence. I just liked the sound of Isa, it felt like something either El Diablo or Blue Beetle would refer to her as. El Diablo Especially, since they didn’t know each other's real names at first and Lois refused to disclose it to him or anyone. The name just stuck.)

Dea:

The name "Dea" is of Latin origin and means "goddess". It's the feminine counterpart to "Deus" which means "god". (Note, Lois is female so it would be the proper term for her. But since surnames come from males- her last name is the masculine version. Thus, her last name is “Deus”)

Detailed explanation:

Origin: Latin

Meaning: "Goddess"

Related Terms: "Deus" (god)

Examples of Dea in Roman Mythology:

Dea Dia: Goddess of growth

Nenia Dea: Goddess of funerals

Dea Matrona: Divine mother goddess of the river Marne in Gaul

Dea Syria: Goddess of Syria (Atargatis)

Dea Tacita: Silent goddess of the dead

(Lois mentions these goddesses in passing. When she was on the Suicide Squad “Dea Tacita” was her codename. Fitting, considering her capabilities.)

[shammah8]

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, 'All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.'"

1 Peter 1:23-25

SATAN'S ATTACK ON THE BIBLE

Brother Andrew continues his teaching on Satan’s strategic attacks:

The second prong of Satan’s attack is on the written word of God. He has historically tried to prevent Christians from having access to the Bible.

Satan understands the power of the Word of God. At the temptation of Jesus, he even made a sly attempt to use Scripture (actually misapplying it) to deflect Jesus from His true mission (Luke 4:1-3). Twisting Scripture is still a favourite tactic of Satan, and we believers need to know the Word so we can respond, just as Jesus did, with a well-applied “It is written…”

Peter recognised the significant role the Word has in our salvation. In his epistle to Christians passing through “fiery trials” he gives the words of encouragement in today’s scripture above.

Now you can understand my life’s passion to distribute the Bible, even in places where its importation or distribution is prohibited. Because I���ve gone around the world preaching that message, many people assume that I must have been the first “God’s smuggler.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

I personally believe that the first Bible smuggler probably was Timothy, the man Paul looked upon as his son in the gospel. This young man of delicate health, but of great spirituality and loyalty, was converted in Paul’s first campaign at Lystra.

At the end of his life, when Paul was in prison in Rome, he looked to Timothy for comfort. In a letter to him, Paul asked his friend to bring his books to the prison the next time he visited.

In 2 Timothy 4:13 it becomes clear Paul was requesting that scrolls of Old Testament Scriptures be brought to him for further study. But how could Timothy get them into Rome and into the jail when, by that time, Christians has already become an outlawed sect? The only possible way would have been to smuggle them in with other items.

Billy Graham, in his book Hoofbeats, suggests that John the apostle had to write his Revelation secretly, while closely guarded by the Romans. The parchment manuscript pages would have been smuggled off the island of Patmos and Christian volunteers copy them for the churches…

This world is an enemy-occupied territory filled with souls to whom Christ holds rightful claim. Under Christ’s command, we invade countries by any means that will help us to get in with the Word of God…

Today I want others to have what makes me grow spiritually — the Bible.

Response

Today I will make every effort to ensure that the Bible is available to everyone to read and practice.

Prayer

Pray for many believers around the world still waiting for their first personal Bible.

© 2013 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

[anumberofhobbies]

THE RAPTURE--ACCORDING TO JESUS

Feb 2, 2024 Jesus taught such a comforting, hope-filled message of His return to rescue His Church before the Tribulation, that His disciples went everywhere teaching this same truth.

When Paul had only a month in a pagan city where he planted a church, the Rapture was central to their doctrine.

The Rapture was First Taught by Jesus

The Rapture is a doctrine started and taught by Jesus, continued and spread by His disciples, and believed and passionately lived out by His Church.

The early church heard and understood this doctrine of Christ’s any-moment return, and radiantly lived, looking for ways to please Him when He came to rescue them.

James in the first NT letter said that Christ was standing at the door (5:7).

The second NT book was I Thessalonians and every chapter shines with Rapture-induced hope-filled expectancy (1:9-10; 2:19-20; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:23).

Paul’s epistles start to finish, are seasoned with the flavor of a focused life awaiting Christ as in Philippians 3:20 where we as citizens of Heaven await Jesus eagerly, as Paul confesses in his last words of II Timothy 4 where he talks about His crown “at that day” when Jesus comes.

Peter says the same, going so far as asking what kind of lives should we live because we know the future (II Peter 3:11 ).

John’s Epistles are the same, in I John 3:2-3 he says that this “hope” causes us to purify our daily life looking for Christ’s coming.

In Revelation 3:7, Jesus Christ identifies Himself to the Church at Philadelphia as the One who is True, Holy, and has the unstoppable Messianic Key of David. When Jesus speaks He tells the Truth. When we listen to Him and hear what He says we can have confident assurance that He knows what He is talking about.

Jesus Christ taught repeatedly (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) that His 2nd Coming is to Judge the ungodly.

That was the content of every sermon on the future that He ever preached.

Each sermon was taught in the context of Israel, was focused upon the Jews, and involved the city of Jerusalem and the nation of Israel.

The Rapture is Not The 2nd Coming

But, when Jesus spoke to believers His emphasis was different.

Jesus taught His own born-again children of the faith, three bedrock truths about the Rapture or His coming for His Church.

These truths are that: the Rapture will be a source of comfort; the Rapture will be similar to the Ascension; and that the Rapture will be an intentional rescue.

Those truths, taught by Jesus Christ Himself, constitute the Biblical, doctrinal basis for all that the early church was later taught by the Apostles and which extends to us throughout all the centuries since Christ’s ministry.

[enlargemycoast3]

Signs of a New Testament church:

1. Preaching & Teaching in the name of Jesus (Book of Acts)

2. Spiritual gifts are in operation ((Acts Ch. 2-5)

3. Healings, signs & wonders, miracles are following (Acts Ch. 2-5)

4. Giving to one another, making sure the needs of the church family are taken care of first, then others (outside of the church, second). (Acts Ch. 2-5)

5. Taking care of orphans and widows in the church. (James 1:27, 1 Timothy 5:3-16)

6. Missions-Supporting those who take the gospel to the world. (3 John 7-8, Galatians 6:6 and throughout Epistles)

[orthodoxadventure]

We keep the Apostolic traditions which we have been taught, either by word, or by an epistle of the divine and sacred Apostles, and we remain in those things which we have learned and which have been entrusted to us, as the Apostle Paul commands us and all Christians in his First Epistle to the Corinthians (11:2), and in his Second Epistle to the Thessalonians (2:15; 3:6), and in his Second Epistle to Timothy (1:13-14).

Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite, Confession of Faith

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SAINTS OF THE DAY (January 26)

On January 26, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, close companions of the Apostle Paul and bishops of the Catholic Church in its earliest days.

Both men received letters from St. Paul, which are included in the New Testament.

Pope Benedict XVI discussed these early bishops during a general audience on 13 December 2006, noting “their readiness to take on various offices in far from easy circumstances."

Both saints, the Pope said, “teach us to serve the Gospel with generosity, realizing that this also entails a service to the Church herself.”

The son of a Jewish mother and a non-Jewish father, Timothy came from Lystra in present-day Turkey.

His mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois are known to have joined the Church. Timothy himself is described as a student of Sacred Scripture from his youth.

After St. Paul’s visit to Timothy’s home region of Lycaonia around the year 51, the young man joined the apostle and accompanied him in his travels.

After religious strife forced Paul to leave the city of Berea, Timothy remained to help the local church.

Paul later sent him to Thessalonica to help the Church during a period of persecution.

The two met up again in Corinth, and Timothy eventually journeyed to Macedonia on Paul’s behalf.

Problems in the Corinthian Church brought Timothy back for a time, after which he joined Paul and accompanied the apostle in subsequent travels.

Like Paul, Timothy endured a period of imprisonment in the course of his missionary work.

His release is mentioned in the New Testament Epistle to the Hebrews.

Around the year 64, Timothy became the first bishop of the Church of Ephesus. During that same year, he received the first of two surviving letters from St. Paul.

The second, written the next year, urges Timothy to visit St. Paul in Rome, where he was imprisoned before his martyrdom.

Ancient sources state that St. Timothy followed his mentor in dying as a martyr for the faith.

In the year 93, during his leadership of the Church in Ephesus, he took a stand against the worship of idols and was consequently killed by a mob.

The pagan festival he was protesting was held on January 22, and this date was preserved as St. Timothy’s memorial in the Christian East.

In contrast with Timothy’s partial Jewish descent and early Biblical studies, St. Titus – who was born into a pagan family – is said to have studied Greek philosophy and poetry in his early years.

But he pursued a life of virtue and purportedly had a prophetic dream that caused him to begin reading the Hebrew Scriptures.

According to tradition, Titus journeyed to Jerusalem and witnessed the preaching of Christ during the Lord’s ministry on earth.

Only later, however – after the conversion of St. Paul and the beginning of his ministry – did Titus receive baptism from the apostle, who called the pagan convert his “true child in our common faith.”

St. Paul was not only Titus’ spiritual father but also depended on his convert as an assistant and interpreter.

Titus accompanied Paul to the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem during the year 51 and was later sent to the Corinthian Church on two occasions.

After the end of Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, the apostle ordained Titus as the Bishop of Crete.

Paul sent his only surviving letter to Titus around the year 64, giving instructions in pastoral ministry to his disciple as he prepared to meet up with him in the Greek city of Nicopolis.

Titus evangelized the region of Dalmatia in modern Croatia before returning to Crete.

Titus is credited with leading the Church of Crete well into his 90s, overturning paganism and promoting the faith through his prayers and preaching.

Unlike St. Timothy, St. Titus was not martyred but died peacefully in old age.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Power, Love and Self-Control

For Elohim has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and of love and of self-control. — 2 Timothy 1:7 | The Scriptures (ISR 1998) The Scriptures 1998 Copyright © 1998 Institute for Scripture Research. All Rights reserved. Cross References: Isaiah 11:2; John 14:27; Romans 8:15

Read full chapter

I Need More Self-Discipline! (2 Timothy 1:7)

[pooma-bible]

Greetings in the matchless Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

DIVISION 03 – The Coming Again of Jesus Christ & The End of the World: Part (D) – The Things Believers Must Do Since Jesus Christ is Coming Again (Part II)!

Rhema Word: 2 Peter 3:17-18 (NKJV) “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

Let us pray. Our Gracious Loving Father, thank You for giving us an opportunity to meditate Your Word today along with Your children who have been called to live a holy life, Father. I commit everyone who are all meditating this message into Your mighty hand Father. Bless them and give them the oneness of Spirit and make their heart as a good land to receive each Word which is living and active Father. Thank You Holy Spirit for helping us to understand the in-depth treasure of Your Word and helping us to live a life as per Your Word Lord. We give all the Glory and Honour to You only Father. We pray in the mighty Name of Your beloved Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

Introduction: To Whom Written: “To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1). “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle” (2 Peter 3:1).

The epistle was apparently sent to the same believers who had received 1 Peter. Remember: they were scattered all throughout Asia. It was also probably written from the same place, Rome.

Purpose of this Letter: To combat and warn the church against false teachers and false doctrine.

Special Features of Epistle Second Peter:

(i) II Peter is “A General Epistle”. That is, it is not written to a specific church or individual, but rather, it is written to all Christian believers.

(ii) II Peter is “An Epistle Written to Combat False Teaching”. From its earliest days, the church had been born in controversy:

=> At first, it was the judaizing or legalistic problem which arose at Antioch (Acts 15:1).

=> Then there was the denial of the literal resurrection of the body by some in the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 15:1).

=> There was also arising the corruptible beginnings of antinomianism and Gnosticism. These false doctrines were appearing all throughout the Roman empire. They were appearing all throughout the Roman empire. They were using God’s grace as an excuse for sinning. They were using God’s grace as an excuse for sinning. The epistles of II Peter, I, II and III John, and Jude were written to combat such errors as these.

(iii) II Peter is “An Epistle Stressing the Importance of Knowledge”. The words know, knowing, and knowledge are used ten times. Knowing the truth is the answer to false teaching.

(iv) II Peter is “An Epistle Verifying the Inspiration of the Scripture”. Peter says in 2 Peter 1:20-21 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Peter’s statement that Paul’s writings were Scripture shows that the canon was already being formed by the early church even while the early apostles were still alive (2 Peter 3:16; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16). The word “canon” simply means a collection of the writings considered to be inspired and breathed forth by God.

(v) II Peter is “An Epistle of the Missionary Apostle to the Jews”. Peter was given the primary responsibility of reaching the Jews throughout the world. He was the apostle to the Jews (Galatians 2:7-8; 11-21).

We have been meditating II Peter in following Three Divisions since last few weeks and completed Division 01 & 02:

DIVISION 01 – The Great Salvation of God: Part (A) – The Great Gift of Christ the Messiah: Salvation!

DIVISION 01 – The Great Salvation of God: Part (B) – The Great Things of the Believer’s Life!

DIVISION 01 – The Great Salvation of God: Part (C) – The Great Proof of Salvation!

DIVISION 02 – The Warnings Against False Teachers: Part (A) – The Description & Judgement of False Teachers!

DIVISION 02 – The Warnings Against False Teachers: Part (B) – The Character & Conduct of False Teachers!

DIVISION 03 – The Coming Again of Jesus Christ & The End of the World: Part (A) – The First Thing to Know: Scoffers Shall Come!

DIVISION 03 – The Coming Again of Jesus Christ & The End of the World: Part (B) – The One Thing Not to Be Ignorant About: Why Christ Has Not Yet Returned?

DIVISION 03 – The Coming Again of Jesus Christ & The End of the World: Part (C) – The Things Believers Must Do Since Jesus Christ is Coming Again (Part I)!

DIVISION 03 – The Coming Again of Jesus Christ & The End of the World: Part (D) – The Things Believers Must Do Since Jesus Christ is Coming Again (Part II)!

Let us try to meditate the Fourth and Final topic in Division 03 - DIVISION 03 – The Coming Again of Jesus Christ & The End of the World: Part (D) – The Things Believers Must Do Since Jesus Christ is Coming Again (Part II)! today on the following, with the help of our Holy Spirit:

Introduction: This passage concludes the second letter of Peter. The emphasis of this concluding exhortation is striking. Jesus Christ is coming again, but His coming has been delayed. Believers are still on earth waiting for Him to come. What then are we to be doing? There are some critical things we should be doing. What are they?

(01) Believers Must Count The Lord’s Patience as Salvation:

(02) Believers Must Beware Lest They Be Led into Error:

(03) Believers Must Grow in the Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord:

(01) Believers Must Count The Lord’s Patience as Salvation:

The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:15-16 “And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.”

Believers must count the patience, the longsuffering of the Lord as salvation:

(i) Remember: scoffers ridicule the coming again of Jesus Christ. They say that the world is operated and run by the natural laws of nature; they say that if God existed and cared about the world, He would have come long ago and saved the world from all the evil, corruption, murder, and war that rages on and on (v.3-4). Remember what Scripture says, why it is that Jesus Christ has not yet come: because God is patient, longsuffering and does not want any person to perish. He wants all to repent and to be saved (v.9). Now note: this is what the present verse is referring to. We are to count the patience, the longsuffering of God as salvation. The Lord Jesus has not yet returned to earth for one reason and one reason only: that more and more people might be saved, that more and more might be snatched out of the claws of death and judgement. This is the reason the Lord delays His return. His delay…

=> is not because He has forgotten the earth;

=> is not because He is angry with man because man has not paid more attention to His Word and teaching;

=> is not because He does not care and love man enough to deliver him out of the evil, corruption, and suffering of the world.

The Lord cares and loves man so much that He wants all men to be saved. He longs for all men to repent and turn to Him. He shrinks from the thought of returning because He knows that when He returns every single unbeliever is doomed forever and ever. Therefore, He waits one more day; He waits longing for a few more to be saved; He waits because He knows that all unbelievers will be doomed to judgement and destruction.

This point is this: the believer must count the patience of the Lord as salvation, as His concern for souls. We must never look upon the Lord’s delay as unconcern or lack of care for His people and for the world. God loves all people, every single person on earth; therefore, He is longsuffering with the sin and evil of men. He is suffering a long time with man and his cursing and rebellion and rejection. But the day will come when God cannot bear sin and evil any longer. When that day comes, He will return and all the unbelievers and ungodly of this world will fall into the hands of an angry God, a God who is just and holy and righteous – just as much so as He was loving and patient and caring.

(ii) Note a significant fact: Peter says that Paul wrote the same thing in his writings. That is, Paul taught that God delayed the coming of Christ so that more and more people could be saved.

Apostle Paul says in Romans 2:4; 3:24-25; 9:22-23; 11:21-22 “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” … “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed.” … “What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory.” … “For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore, consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.”

(iii) Note that some people twist the Scripture to their viewpoint. The point is this: believers are not to take the delay of Christ and assume that it is going to be years and years before He ever comes and before we have to face judgement. We must keep our eyes on His return, watch, prepare, and be ready at all times. If we are not watching, then we are being lazy and complacent and are much more likely to fall into sin and worldliness. And if this happens, we will be caught unprepared and be spotted and dirtied with sin and stand blameable before Him (v.14).

The Lord is not delaying His return so that we can enjoy this world and its pleasures and possessions more. This earth is to be dissolved, utterly destroyed, and melted down. The Lord is delaying His return because He is patient, wanting more and more people to be saved. Our task is to be more evangelistic; to live more spotless and blameless lives so that we can reach more and more people for Christ. The delay of Christ should not cause us to become lethargic, complacent, and worldly; it should stir us to be more diligent in the mission of Christ. If we twist the Scripture, allowing the patience of God to stir the thought that we have a little more time to wait, then we are destroying ourselves.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said in Matthew 22:29 “Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.”

Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:4-5,13 “For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.” … “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” … “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness.” … “For this reason, we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”

Apostle Peter says in 2 Peter 3:16 “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.”

Lesson: Note two things:

(a) Peter said that Paul wrote some things that were difficult to understand. He also says that some people twisted what Paul said just as they twisted the truth of God’s patience. What were those things?

=> Apostle Paul’s teaching on justification by faith. This teaching led some people to say that when a person believed in Christ, he was saved no matter how he lived. Even if a person lived like the devil himself, if he believed in Christ, he was saved. This, of course, leads to the abuse of grace.

Apostle Paul says in Romans 3:5-8; 6:1-2 “But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.” … “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

Apostle James says in James 2:14-16 “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus, also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

=> Apostle Paul’s teaching on Christian liberty and freedom. This teaching led some people to say that Paul was removing the restrictions of God upon behaviour and giving license to live and do as one likes.

Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:1-2; 7:4; 14:1-12 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” … “Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.” … “Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord, he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So, then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore, let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.”

Apostle Paul further says in 1 Corinthians 6:12; Galatians 3:10; 5:13 “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” … “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” … “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

(b) Peter said that Paul’s writings were accepted as Scripture by the early church (v.16). He says that they twisted Paul’s writings even as they did “the other Scriptures”. There is no doubt that the apostles claimed to speak by the help of the Holy Spirit (1 Thes.5:27; Col.4:16) just as the prophets of Old Testament did (2 Peter 1:20). Peter thus puts Paul’s Epistles on the same plane with the Old Testament, which was also misused (Matthew 5:21-44; 15:3-6; 19:3-10).

(02) Believers Must Beware Lest They Be Led into Error:

The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:17 “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked”.

Believers must beware lest they be led into error. Note that Peter addresses the believers of the churches as “beloved”. He loves God’s people, and it has been his love that has stirred him to warn them of the great day of God that is coming, the terrible judgement and destruction of the ungodly and of the heavens and earth. Now Peter gives the believers who are dear friends one more warning: “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked” (v.17).

The believer has been warned; he now knows all about these things. He has read and studied the letter of Second Peter…

=> the message of great love and salvation of God and of the coming judgement of God upon man and his world;

=> the message that warns against false teachers who pervert and twist the Scriptures. They deny the Lord (2 Peter 2:1) and the Scripture (2 Peter 2:1) and the return of Christ and the judgement to come (2 Peter 3:3).

The believer has been warned; therefore, he must now beware, guard and stand against the error of false teachers. If he does not stay alert and guard against the teaching of false teachers, he will be led away by their error. The believer will fall and no longer be steadfast. He will lose the exciting hope of the Lord’s return and no longer look forward to the glorious union with Christ nor to eternal life with God and Father.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said in Matthew 26:41; Mark 13:5, 33 “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” … “And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you.” … “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.”

Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:12; 16:13; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:3-4 “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” … “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” … “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” … “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables.”

The Bible says in Acts 20:31; Hebrews 3:12; Proverbs 4:14 “Therefore watch and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” … “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” … “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil.”

Apostle Peter says in 2 Peter 3:17 “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked”.

(03) Believers Must Grow in the Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord:

The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

Believers must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Note the close of Peter’s letter, a glorious exaltation of praise: “ To Him be the glory both now and forever”. All the glory that belongs to God, Peters says belongs to Jesus Christ. And if any one person should know, Peter should. Peter is the big fisherman, but man chosen by Christ to be one of His closest associates and to be the leader of His small apostolic band. No one knew Jesus Christ any better than Peter. And Peter says that the glory due God belongs to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God incarnate in human flesh, God who came down to earth to reveal Himself and to save men.

What a telling final ejaculation! It reveals the mainspring of Peter’s Christianity. Christ the Saviour; Christ the Lord; to Christ belongs glory for ever. In this incidental phrase we have the highest possible Christology. For glory belongs to God (Romans 11:36, Jude 1:25). But Peter had learnt that “all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father” (John 5:23).

Yes, we must grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Follow on to know the Lord. Labour to know Him more clearly and more fully, to know more of Christ… so as to be more like Him and to love Him better. This is the knowledge of Christ the apostle Paul reached after and desired to attain as he says in Philippians 3:10 “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” Such a knowledge of Christ as conforms us more to Him and will preserve us from falling off in times of apostasy; and those who experience the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will give thanks and praise to Him, and join with our apostle in saying, “ To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

Let us introspect ourselves.

Shall we count the patience and the longsuffering of our Lord Jesus Christ as salvation as He loves all people and having concern for every soul?

Shall we be more cautious about the false teachers who pervert and twist the Scriptures besides denying the Lord, the Scripture, the return of Christ and the day of judgement to come?

Shall we commit ourselves to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ so as to be more like Him and to love Him better which would preserve us from falling off in times of apostasy?

Let us Pray: Our Heavenly Gracious Father, we thank You for helping us to understand about “Second Peter: DIVISION 03 – The Coming Again of Jesus Christ & The End of the World: Part (D) – The Things Believers Must Do Since Jesus Christ is Coming Again (Part II)”, today, Father. Father, please help us to count the patience and the longsuffering of Yourselves and Your beloved Son Jesus Christ as salvation as You love all people and having concern for every soul. Father, please help us to be more cautious about the false teachers who pervert and twist the Scriptures besides denying the You, the Scripture, the return of Your beloved Son Jesus Christ and the day of judgement, Father. Please help us to commit ourselves to grow in the grace and knowledge of You and Your beloved Son Jesus Christ so as to be more like Him and to love Him better which would preserve us from falling off in times of apostasy, Father. We thank You Father for filling us with Your joy, peace, and hope, for accepting us when we approach You through Your beloved Son Jesus Christ besides being merciful on us and loving us so much and predestined us to receive Your promise of glory through Your beloved Son Jesus Christ, Father. We give all praise, glory, and honour to Your Holy Name. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

God bless you all.

[yhwhrulz]

Charles Spurgeon's "Morning & Evening" Devotional for December 7

Morning

“The love of money is the root of all evil.”

1 Timothy 6

The first epistle to Timothy concludes with a practical exhortation relating to various classes in the church, and with an earnest word to the young minister himself.

1 Timothy 6:1 , 1 Timothy 6:2

For Christian servants to take undue liberties because their employers are believers, is shameful, they ought rather to render them higher respect and more willing service.

1 Timothy 6:6

It makes us truly happy, by making our little into much and sweetening all the trials of life: “Poor and content is rich, and rich enough.”

1 Timothy 6:7 , 1 Timothy 6:8

Enough is as good as a feast, and frequently better, for it saves us from the ills of surfeit, the sure punishment of greediness.

1 Timothy 6:9 , 1 Timothy 6:10

Money can be used for the best of purposes, but the love of it is idolatry and the cause of countless evils. How is it that so many professed Christians live only to make money, and are just as eager after wealth as the avowed worldling?

1 Timothy 6:17-19

Having spoken to those who seek riches, he now admonishes those who possess them, that they must not hoard for themselves, but lay up treasure in heaven by generously distributing their goods on earth. Have we property? Let us hold it as stewards of the Lord. It is both our duty and our happiness to use all that we have to glorify him who, though he was rich, yet became poor for our sakes. Is he truly ours? Then let all ours be truly his.

1 Timothy 6:20 , 1 Timothy 6:21

O Lord, grant that grace may be with us also, this day and till the last great day. Amen.

Let us, in life and death,

Thy steadfast truth declare;

And publish with our atest breath,

Thy love, and guardian care.

Evening

“Hold fast the form of sound words.”

2 Timothy 1

The second epistle to Timothy is remarkable as being probably the last which the apostle wrote; it contains dying advice, written in the immediate prospect of martyrdom. Looking forward calmly to the grave, and with the executioner’s axe in the foreground, Paul pens this letter to his favourite disciple, and solemnly charges him to abide faithful unto death.

2 Timothy 1:1-5

We see here the inmost heart of Paul. Deserted by many of his friends, and in the feebleness of old age, expecting a cruel death, he cherishes the memory of his beloved young disciple, and longs to look once more upon his face. With joy he remembers the holy mother and grandmother of his friend, and the unfeigned piety of Timothy himself. How natural and how touching!

2 Timothy 1:8-10

Do not hesitate to come to Rome and bear with me the reproaches and dangers which belong to the ministers of Christ,

2 Timothy 1:8-10

“The old man eloquent” feels his soul kindling as he describes the glories of the gospel, eternal in its purpose, matchless in its achievements. He sits on the brink of the grave, and sings of one who hath abolished death. Faith in the resurrection could alone suggest such a triumphant exclamation.

2 Timothy 1:13

This is the main burden of the apostle’s pleading with Timothy, “Hold fast.” We have equal need of the same exhortation, for this is an evil day, and thousands hold everything or nothing as the winds of opinion may change.

2 Timothy 1:14-18

This good man is here immortalised. When he risked his life to find out and succour a poor despised prisoner, he little knew that he would live for ever on the page of the church’s history. His cup of cold water given to an apostle has received an apostle’s reward. Are there any yet alive like Paul to whom we might minister in love after the manner of Onesiphorus?

Stripp’d of my earthly friends,

I find them all in One;

And peace, and joy that never ends,

And heav’n, in Christ alone!

Copyright Statement This resource was produced before 1923 and therefore is considered in the "Public Domain".

[bernardo1969]

The apostle Paul in his Second Epistle to Timothy highlighted the mystery of grace in the preaching of the Kingdom of God, the empire or dominion of the divine perfections, to pagans and Gentiles. The tradition of the Church holds that the apostle Paul was imprisoned on his arrival in the city of Rome to be tried by the emperor before his martyrdom, and it is probable from the expressions made by the apostle in the epistle to his beloved disciple that this text was written during this time. Despite the difficulties that the early Church faced due to persecution, Paul wanted to reaffirm Timothy's faith and for this reason he wrote these words to him: "I ask you to make full use of the gift God gave you when I placed my hands to you" 2 Timothy 1:6. Because for Paul, grace, that free choice that God makes of men to fulfill his plan from eternity, is a transforming spirit of the world: "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline" 2 Timothy 1:7. Paul continued in the epistle with his teaching and called Timothy to persevere with determination in the face of difficulties, because Timothy as well as the apostle, with his conversion on the road to the city of Damascus, had been called to a mission and he expressed this truth in this way: "He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace" 2 Timothy 1:9. Like Timothy in the epistle, every Christian is called by grace to a freedom, a freedom that is contrary to the worldly desires, but which makes men brothers and children of God.

[bills-bible-basics]

APOSTLE PAUL IN ROME -- KJV (King James Version) Bible Verse List #Scriptures #BibleStudy #BibleVerses Visit https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/ to see more. As a matter of clarification, allow me to inform you that it is commonly believed that the Apostle Paul did not personally write all of his Epistles. Due to his poor eyesight -- which may have possibly been a result of the incident on the road to Damascus where the Lord struck down Paul, and left him blind for three days -- Paul was forced to dictate a number of his Epistles to his traveling companions. "After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome." Acts 19:21, KJV "And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome." Acts 23:11, KJV "And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli: Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him." Acts 28:13-16, KJV "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ . . . So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also." Romans 1:7, 15, KJV "Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. [To the Galatians written from Rome.]" Galatians 6:18, KJV "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. [To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.]" Ephesians 6:24, KJV "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. [To the Philippians written from Rome, by Epaphroditus.]" Philippians 4:23, KJV "The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. [Written from Rome to Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.]" Colossians 4:18, KJV "But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me." 2 Timothy 1:17, KJV "The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. [The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.]" 2 Timothy 4:22, KJV "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. [Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.]" Philemon 1:25, KJV If you would like more info regarding the origin of these KJV Bible verse lists, go to https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/. Thank-you! https://www.billkochman.com/Blog/index.php/apostle-paul-in-rome-kjv-king-james-version-bible-verse-list/?feed_id=199220&APOSTLE%20PAUL%20IN%20ROME%20--%20KJV%20%28King%20James%20Version%29%20Bible%20Verse%20List

[anumberofhobbies]

THE RAPTURE--DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT JESUS TAUGHT ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THE END? (CLW-24)

May 4, 2025 THE RAPTURE--DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT JESUS TAUGHT ABOUT THE END'S BEGINNING?

Jesus' comforting, hope-filled message of His return to rescue His Church before the Tribulation was so powerful that His disciples went everywhere teaching this same truth. When Paul spent only a month in a pagan city where he planted a church, the Rapture was central to their doctrine.

The Rapture was First Taught by Jesus

The Rapture is a doctrine started and taught by Jesus, continued and spread by His disciples, and believed and passionately lived out by His Church. The early church heard and understood this doctrine of Christ’s imminent return and radiantly lived, looking for ways to please Him when He came to rescue them.

James, in the first NT letter said that Christ was standing at the door (5:7). The second NT book was I Thessalonians and every chapter shines with Rapture-induced hope-filled expectancy (1:9-10; 2:19-20; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:23). Paul’s epistles start to finish, are seasoned with the flavor of a focused life awaiting Christ as in Philippians 3:20 where we as citizens of Heaven await Jesus eagerly, as Paul confesses in his last words of II Timothy 4 where he talks about His crown “at that day” when Jesus comes.

Peter says the same, going so far as asking what kind of lives should we live because we know the future (II Peter 3:11 ). John’s Epistles are the same, in I John 3:2-3 he says that this “hope” causes us to purify our daily life looking for Christ’s coming.

In Revelation 3:7, Jesus Christ identifies Himself to the Church at Philadelphia as the One who is True, Holy, and has the unstoppable Messianic Key of David. When Jesus speaks He tells the Truth. When we listen to Him and hear what He says we can have confident assurance that He knows what He is talking about.

Jesus Christ repeatedly taught (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) that His Second Coming is to Judge the ungodly. That was the content of every sermon on the future that He ever preached. Each sermon was taught in the context of Israel, focused upon the Jews, and involved the city of Jerusalem and the nation of Israel.

The Rapture is Not The 2nd Coming However, when Jesus spoke to believers, His emphasis was different. Jesus taught His born-again children of the faith three bedrock truths about the Rapture or His coming for His Church.

These truths are that the Rapture will be a source of comfort, similar to the Ascension, and an intentional rescue. (CLW-24; 111009AM)

[noeticprayer]

Moses the Black of Scete

Reading from the Synaxarion:

Saint Moses, who is also called Moses the Black, was a slave, but because of his evil life, his master cast him out, and he became a ruthless thief, dissolute in all his ways. Later, however, coming to repentance, he converted, and took up the monastic life under Saint Isidore of Scete. He gave himself over to prayer and the mortification of the carnal mind with such diligence that he later became a priest of exemplary virtue. He was revered by all for his lofty ascetical life and for his great humility. Once the Fathers in Scete asked Moses to come to an assembly to judge the fault of a certain brother, but he refused. When they insisted, he took a basket which had a hole in it, filled it with sand, and carried it on his shoulders. When the Fathers saw him coming they asked him what the basket might mean. He answered, "My sins run out behind me, and I do not see them, and I am come this day to judge failings which are not mine." When a barbarian tribe was coming to Scete, Moses, conscious that he himself had slain other men when he was a thief, awaited them and was willingly slain by them with six other monks, at the end of the fourth century. He was a contemporary of Saint Arsenius the Great (see May 8).

Apolytikion of Moses the Ethiopian in the First Tone

Thou didst prove to be a citizen of the desert, an angel in the flesh, and a wonderworker, O Moses, our God-bearing Father. By fasting, vigil, and prayer thou didst obtain heavenly gifts, and thou healest the sick and the souls of them that have recourse to thee with faith. Glory to Him that hath given thee strength. Glory to Him that hath crowned thee. Glory to Him that worketh healings for all through thee.

Epistle Reading

The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 16:4-12

Brethren, if it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me. I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may speed me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now just in passing; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay in Ephesos until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him. Speed him on his way in peace, that he may return to me; for I am expecting him with the brethren. As for our brother Apollos, I strongly urge him to visit you with the other brethren, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has the opportunity.

Gospel Reading

The Reading is from the Gospel According to Matthew 21:28-32

The Lord said this parable, "A man had two sons; and he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterward he repented and went. And he went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him and even when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe him."