Archive for August 2023

Nehemiah 9, Proverbs 12:15-28, Luke 18:1-8, 2 Timothy 3:10-17 2 Timothy 3:10-17: Paul has described for Timothy the true nature of humanity in these last days in which we live, and now he comes to encourage Timothy in the face of these difficulties in two transformative ways. First of all, Paul reminds Timothy what he knew about Paul’s…

Nehemiah 8, Proverbs 12:1-14, Luke 17:20-37, 2 Timothy 3:1-9 2 Timothy 3:1-9: This is one of the more politically incorrect passages that Paul ever wrote! Why would he write what – to contemporary ears – seem such harsh words? First, we have to understand the bigger picture theology. Behind Paul’s writings there is an assumption about human nature.…

Nehemiah 7, Proverbs 11:16-31, Luke 17:11-19, 2 Timothy 2:14-26 2 Timothy 2:14-26: Paul is telling Timothy how to deal with the false teachers at Ephesus. So much depends on Timothy, and he is so young. Plus, Paul, his great mentor, is about to die. This whole letter bears the mark of the weight of a final commission from…

Nehemiah 6, Proverbs 11:1-15, Luke 17:1-10, 2 Timothy 2:1-13 2 Timothy 2:1-13: Paul is continuing to give Timothy instructions on how to deal with false teaching that had arisen in Ephesus. Paul is about to die, and the whole Christian movement was under pressure – and now Timothy must step up and take on the task of being…

Nehemiah 4-5, Proverbs 10:17-32, Luke 16:19-31, 2 Timothy 1 2 Timothy 1: In this second letter to Timothy, Paul is now facing his own death. He appears certain that this time he will not escape the lion’s mouth, as he is probably in the midst of the intemperate purges of Emperor Nero against Christians and all other (what…

Nehemiah 3, Proverbs 10:1-16, Luke 16:10-18, 1 Timothy 6:11-21 1 Timothy 6:11-21: Paul is now coming towards the end of his instructions to Timothy in this letter that we call 1 Timothy. As he concludes, he adds considerable weight to the “charge” that he is giving Timothy and gives him further practical counsel to ensure that he fights…

Nehemiah 1-2, Proverbs 9, Luke 16:1-9, 1 Timothy 6:1-10 1 Timothy 6:1-10: Paul is teaching Timothy how to deal with the false teaching that was challenging the orthodox faith at Ephesus. In this section, he first tackles one of the trickiest challenges for any Christian at the time – the institution of slavery – and then returns to…

Ezra 10, Proverbs 8, Luke 15:11-32, 1 Timothy 5:16-25 1 Timothy 5:16-25: In verse 16, Paul finishes off his instructions about widows (see the devotional yesterday for context), and then turns his attention to how to manage elders. It is important that Christian leaders are giving the right kind of instructions and support and care. How? First of…

Ezra 9, Proverbs 7, Luke 15:1-10, 1 Timothy 5:1-15 1 Timothy 5:1-15: While a pastor’s task is to be focused on the public delivery of the Word (as we saw yesterday), there are innumerable specific and complicated matters which require not the public broadcast but the finely wielded scalpel to bring healing and health. Paul now shows Timothy…

Ezra 8, Proverbs 6, Luke 14:25-35, 1 Timothy 4 1 Timothy 4: In this passage, Paul teaches Timothy – and us – what the nature of false teaching is and what is to be done about it. First, according to Paul, false teaching will occur in the last days. That is, in the time between Jesus’ first coming…