Ancient Anglican

Like Timothy, there are those times in life when we just don’t feel like it and Paul is saying continue on anyway.

For Paul, the Scriptures aren’t merely God’s dictation to the respective author or editor, but are alive with truly inspired – being filled with the very spirit and breath of God that we first meet hovering over the waters at Creation (Gen 1:2).

These verses should compel us to only speak of such godless people in the first person singular.

Ultimately, Paul instructs Timothy to correct these false teachers with kindness and with gentleness.

The three analogies of Christian service – solider, athlete, sharecropper.

Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God.

From our perspective, 1 Timothy is written to a vestry member or any church leader. 2 Timothy is written to someone whose faith has lagged, who is burned out on church and God, and who is spiritually tired. 2 Timothy is written for most every one of us.

Like slavery in Roman society, the very basis of our economic system is wealth accumulation. Although no other economic system has brought more people out of poverty, how do we reconcile our American capitalist system with the teachings of Scripture?

How are we to handle these verses supporting slavery? 

The question is how to separate out the practical teachings which are given to a specific people at a specific time in a specific place from the underlying universals which are applicable to all people, at all times, in all places.

As we have discussed before, what happens when people take advantage of the church’s sacred duty?

From athletes to musicians to soldiers, people train themselves so that they can perform at the highest level when required. The spiritual life is no different. We should always press on towards the goal which is to be like Jesus Christ. Phil. 3:14.