We’re over halfway through This Is the New Testament, our thematic overview of the New Testament. Each day we’ll read a thematic selection from a different book of the Bible, along with supplemental passages that show how the theme of that day’s main reading is found throughout Scripture. We’ll also read a brief summary of each book and a reflection on how the book fits into the larger story of Scripture. This week, we’ll finish our look at the Pauline Epistles and begin the General Epistles.
What Is 2 Timothy? Second Timothy, also written to Paul’s son in the faith Timothy, is the last letter Paul wrote before he was martyred in Rome. It encourages endurance for believers and stresses the importance of teaching God’s Word to the believers entrusted to his care.
How 2 Timothy Fits Into the Story: As Paul built up church leaders, he expressed concern for spreading the truth of the gospel. His faithfulness in refuting false gospels laid a significant foundation for the early Church, as well as for believers today. Second Timothy gives insight into Paul’s perspective of hope in suffering through extremely difficult circumstances.
Reflection Questions:
1. How does God’s Word equip you for “every good work” (2Tim 3:17)?
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Take time to reflect on your responses and share what you are learning with others in the community in the comments.
VICTORIA, you were specifically in my prayers this morning! I have ordered Nicki Koziarz new study, FLOODED. It deals with hope in hard times – based on Noah. Please check it out. The video lessons are free!
THERESA, you gave the message our pastor preached yesterday in a nutshell!!!Amen!
I too was impacted by 2 Timothy4:3-4. I also highlighted Deuteronomy8:11 and Proverbs 3:3.
ERB, so glad you are seeing some improvement and you remain in my prayers as do others. I agree completely with your comment about this group!
KARRIE, God bless and guide you and your husband through this reconciliation!
CeeGee thank you! I actually ordered the book Flooded a while back and never got to it, I will put it on my short list !
ERB, I am here, just a little late, as I don’t have to go to work today and so am a little late in rising this morning, though sometimes I wish I could physically and mentally sleep in until noon like Saturdays as a kid sometimes. ha ha, It was a blessed weekend and a beginning of my granddaughters getting regular time with their mom. Praise God, so so good. He does fight for the best of all of us, and I am so very thankful. We have a Mighty God, his faithfulness is proven over and over. I loved Isaiah 64 as well. And your words ERB on the process. Isn’t it true we are in process too, our suffering, our trials, either bring us to be bitter, or to be better. In Christ, as we are humbled in our need for Him daily, and to the reality that we definitely can not do this on our own, but that with Jesus walking beside us and trusting the One who is trustworthy we have what we need to learn and grow and love in it all. I too love that this chapter feels like an awakening, and to me I feel the ownership in the writing like they are looking in the mirror and see the reality of their sin and are laying it before God. Isaiah 64:5-7 show this. And I love the turn in verse 8
Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
And we see in the next few lines, the asking will this continue, this punishment? In my mind it is saying Can you still forgive us Lord, when we have strayed so far, is there still a way for you to forgive even this? And, I think, how many people are caught in their sin, their separation from God these days, and feel they are not worthy of forgiveness or that they are unforgivable. But God, He made a way to break these chains, the lies we tell ourselves. How much are we called to be speaking love to others that they might know His forgiveness. Thank you dear ERB. Blessing upon Blessing in Isaiah. And right here in these days, whatever they bring. I can’t quote it, but the verse in the Bible that says we are to rejoice in our suffering, it has hit me lately that such rejoicing is only possible in knowing that who we cling to is holding us so close in it, and in knowing Who is holding us, His strength, His love, His sight, gives us reason to rejoice. His joy to your day sweet friend.
Jody Lynn praise God for this excellent news!! Prayer is powerful. Taylor, I also feel I need endurance to withstand attacks from the enemy on the battlefield of my mind. For whatever reason I have been feeling discouraged in my walk with God, as if I am somehow disappointing Him and I cannot figure out why. I have been walking through a trying season of going through IVF and my husband has been away for the past month , and yet during it despite my anxiety my prayers and faith grew exponentially. Now with 33 weeks of pregnancy to go I feel somehow afraid I won’t have the endurance to continue putting complete faith in God. After our miscarriage a few months ago being pregnant again is a huge blessing but also a bit scary. I believe God is faithful yet I am afraid I will “mess up” in my walk with Him during this time and not bring Him glory. Please continue to pray for me, my faith, and this little one.
Scripture is God-breathed and our purpose here on Earth is to do good works in the name of Jesus Christ. Of course His word equips us for our purpose!
This is so appropriately timed for today’s world in which we find ourselves immersed by the mindset of self indulgence. I feel the sweet encouragement to stay the course with eyes locked on Him!
So true Marcy❤
Gods word equips me to be ready to give an answer why I believe the way I do. There are times when I’ve had to be bold. There are times when I was shy. And there are times when I just didn’t know what to say. My dependence is only in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I often pray that my words will not be my words but the words of Jesus it’s not me. It’s all Jesus. THIS MORNING is my daughter’s first day of in-person high school. Like most students. She spent her entire freshman year distantly learning. No hugs or kisses. No walking her to her class. Just a drop off and a wave. My heart. I feel like when I dropped her off to kindergarten.. Please pray she has a good day as she is very nervous. There’s lots of help to find their classes if they can’t find them. One of her good friends is a leader ship and she’s there to help as well. My sister-in-law works at her school and so does one of my good teacher friends. I know she’s in good hands mainly because God is with her.
Good morning ladies, just wanted to give an update on my situation…ended up in the ER on Saturday night, as I was experiencing very bad nausea, and headache due to the concussion. I was able to get the results of the CT scan taken on Friday – all was clear, praise the Lord! Thank you for your prayers! I’ll just have to take things slow, try to rest and be careful to NOT bang my head again during the next 6 months.
@Grammiesue – I continue to lift you and your family in pray during this very difficult time.
@Pam – glad to hear you made it safely to the beach, and without much pain!
@Taylor – continuing to pray for you…WE sang See A Victory yesterday at our worship service – love that song!
Today’s reading – God’s word “sets us right”! Without God and His word, I can do nothing. Knowledge, wisdom, strength, truth, guidance, help, hope etc, etc..all come from reading, meditating on, memorizing and living out God’s word!…Even though I am redeemed by the precious blood of Christ – that does not mean that I won’t suffer trials, hardships, afflictions or persecutions. But it does mean that I won’t have to go through it alone! Christ will be with me, He will strengthen me.
(Hebrews 13:5-6; Philippians 4:13) Hallelujah!
To all my SRT sisters, praying for your requests as I read them – have a blessed Monday!
2 Timothy 4:2-5 is seriously a gift to hear, just as all scripture is but this section is such comfort. In the past couple years, watching those I have called brothers and sisters in the faith be taken captive by the new cultural movements in the name of a new and better view of Jesus has been scary. But this passage of scripture is a great comfort because there is nothing unknown by God and all I can do is pray—pray for them to return to the truth of God’s word. Pray that we, the church, would stay strong in the faith & in sound doctrine. Pray that we would “no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.” (Ephesians 4:14).