You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me. . .which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. . .2 Timothy 3:10-11 ESV
It all started with a couple of simple questions…
Do you know this author? Has she written any other studies?
How many Precept studies have you done and/or led?
At the same time, I have been slowly “spring cleaning” my library — not only deciding what to keep and what to give away, but also developing an inventory so I can easily find “that book” or “that study” when I need it. (Yet another “un-fun” reality of brain injury is that my inventory can no longer be entrusted entirely in my memory)
I have a lot of books. And yes, my Kindle has quite the library as well. . .
I have a lot of Bible studies. I have kept them because not only are they a good resource, but they read like journals of what God has taught me over the years, and how my life has changed. . .
Back to the title —
Paul is in prison. He knows his time on earth is short. Unlike the jail in Philippi, there won’t be a miraculous prison break this time. He is writing to Timothy, his “son in the faith” his last words, things he really wants Timothy to know and remember after Paul is gone. You can sense the urgency in Paul’s “voice.”
You, however — Paul has just given Timothy a warning of what kinds of people he (and the church) will be up against. It is not a pretty list. One phrase jumped out at me —
. . .always learning (gain intellectual facts) and never able to arrive at a knowledge (full knowledge that changes behavior) of the truth 2 Timothy 3:7 parentheses mine
O Lord Jesus, I NEVER want to be that person, not even for a minute!!! Verses 10 – 17 is who I want to be. . .
you have followed my teaching didaskalia — precepts, doctrine
my conduct, my aim in life prothesis — firm resolve, intention, plan
my faith pistis — Trust, firm persuasion, confiding belief in the truth, veracity, reality of God, and reliance on Christ for salvation
my patience makrothumia — patient endurance when other people attack or make our lives difficult
my love agapeo, my steadfastness hupomone — patience and endurance under difficult circumstances
my persecutions and sufferings — God causes all things to work together for good. . .Romans 8:28
. . .the Lord rescued me rhuomai — to draw or drag along the ground; to draw or snatch from danger
What God teaches me is meant to be passed on, not hoarded. When I read and study the Bible, the intent is for me to be changed, to be thoroughly equipped for every good work 2 Timothy 3:17
and so, by God’s grace, and as long as He gives me brain function and cognition, I will continue to study His Word, and to “. . .hide His word in my heart, that I might not sin against Him” (from psalm 119)
not so I can win at Bible Trivia
but so I can obey my Savior, to go. . .and make disciples of all nations. . .teaching them to observe all that [Jesus] commanded. . . Matthew 28:19-20
Can you tell I love my Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible ESV (AMG Publishers) ?
Plea for Grace 