1 Timothy
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Sunday (1 Timothy 1)
Salutation
1:1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 1:2 to Timothy, my genuine child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!
Timothy’s Task in Ephesus
1:3 As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to spread false teachings,
1:4 nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan that operates by faith.
1:5 But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
1:6 Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion.
1:7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently.
1:8 But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately,
1:9 realizing that law is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,
1:10 sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers – in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching.
1:11 This accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me.
1:12 I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry,
1:13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief,
1:14 and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus.
1:15 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them!
1:16 But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.
1:17 Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.
1:18 I put this charge before you, Timothy my child, in keeping with the prophecies once spoken about you, in order that with such encouragement you may fight the good fight.
1:19 To do this you must hold firmly to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith.
1:20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
Prayer
Lord, You had mercy on me to demonstrate Your patience, and to use my story to illustrate the redemptive power of Your Gospel. May I cling to You to persevere and tell Your story wherever I go.
Summary & Commentary
Paul was writing to Timothy in Ephesus, whom he labeled as “... my genuine child in the faith”. He asked him to combat false teachings and “... useless speculations”.
He specifically addressed those who “... occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. Such things promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan that operates by faith.”
[Note: The obsession with genealogy fed a desire of some to assert a right to speak with greater authority or to claim special standing before God (because they claimed to be related to a famous descendant), was distracting from the Gospel which taught salvation through grace by faith—without regard to any other variable.]
Paul amplified the importance of evaluating those who teach based on their character and knowledge “... the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.”
He defined the failures of the opposition “Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently.”
Paul noted that the legitimate purpose of the law is to convict the unsaved, “... any who live contrary to sound teaching” of their sin.
He reminded them that he had, prior to salvation “... acted ignorantly in unbelief, and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus.” God’s purpose was to take “... the worst of them” [Paul] and through grace “... demonstrated His utmost patience”.
Paul reminded Timothy that he was called to ministry as a fulfillment of God’s prophesy to work through men to “... fight the good fight” by holding “... firmly to faith and a good conscience”.
He further noted “some have rejected”, failed in, (“... holding “... firmly to faith and a good conscience”) “... and so have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan, to be taught not to blaspheme.”
[Note: Paul does not appear to be suggesting the loss of salvation but the loss of the Lord God’s blessings, including protection, and also fellowship. This may be seen in his use of “... taught not to blaspheme” since there would be no point in teaching a permanently-lost person.]
Interaction
Consider
The contrast between Timothy bringing the true gospel with a right heart versus those who had “... strayed from the faith” and were promoting distracting and empty teachings.
Discuss
What are some practical ways that one may earn a reputation like that of Timothy for “... a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.”?
Reflect
Paul’s reminded that that the legitimate purpose of the law is to convict the unsaved, “... any who live contrary to sound teaching” of their sin.
Share
What is an example of your prior-to-salvation life where you “... acted ignorantly in unbelief” but God’s grace washed that away once you received salvation from faith?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone who has drifted into the teaching of “... useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan that operates by faith ... not understand(ing) what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently.” so that they do not “... suffer shipwreck in regard to the faith ...” and irk God to the point of being “... handed over to Satan, to be taught not to blaspheme.”
Action:
Today I am choosing to pray for th eone whom the Holy Spirit has identified and I will, in confidence, ask at least one other believer to add their prayers in-agreement with mine.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Monday (1 Timothy 2)
Prayer for All People
2:1 First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people,
2:2 even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
2:3 Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior,
2:4 since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
2:5 For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human,
2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time.
2:7 For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle – I am telling the truth; I am not lying – and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
2:8 So I want the men to pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without anger or dispute.
Conduct of Women
2:9 Likewise the women are to dress in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control. Their adornment must not be with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing,
2:10 but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God.
2:11 A woman must learn quietly with all submissiveness.
2:12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. She must remain quiet.
2:13 For Adam was formed first and then Eve.
2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, because she was fully deceived, fell into transgression.
2:15 But she will be delivered through childbearing, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.
Prayer
Lord, You ask us to pray for others – including leaders – because we want them to choose You and therefore be our brothers and sisters. May I be wise in my prayers to desire the blessing of salvation rather than the curse of trouble upon those who trouble me.
Summary & Commentary
Paul addressed prayer “I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people ... since he wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”
He added “... even for kings and all who are in authority ... since he wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”
And so “... that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
Then “Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
Paul then reviewed the unique work of Christ “For there is one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time.”
He reviewed his personal role and credibility “For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle—I am telling the truth; I am not lying—and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.”
Paul summarized his teaching on prayer “So I want the men to pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dispute.”
[Note: There are two keys necessary to unlocking Paul’s context and intent. First, his use of “Likewise” could imply that he had addressed the matter of men’s conduct, and that text is missing—or that, he was referring to his instruction “... I want men to pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without anger or dispute”—his emphasis on “... without anger or dispute”, also a topic of self-control. Second, that he was using “So,” to link back to “... since he wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”]
He then addressed the sensitive matter of women within the Christian fellowship “Likewise the women are to dress in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control,”
Paul offered an example of simple versus excessive “adornment” and of drawing attention to oneself, specifically one’s appearance, versus intentional “... good deeds, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God”
[Note: Paul could have used the same phraseology for men, and given his use of “likewise”, essentially did so—“... without anger or dispute as is proper for men who profess reverence for God.”
It appears plausible to understand “... suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control” as layered on top of a common instruction to men and women. Or, “Likewise” could mean that he was now giving a discrete/separate instruction to the women about public interaction.
[Note: Paul (and Jesus) breached the existing cultural subjugation of women by allowing them to learn the Bible, to participate fully in commerce, and to serve in certain forms of leadership (to minor children and other women) within a fellowship.]
He encouraged the participation of women in learning about God, something not allowed by the traditional patriarchal and legalistic authorities (common to both Jewish and Gentile cultures) “A woman must learn ...” then he added “... quietly with all submissiveness.”
[Note: The implication here is of a local problem with women in the fellowship becoming argumentative. Paul elsewhere instructed the older men to teach the younger men and the older women the younger women, so clearly he did not intend to bar women from learning. One may observe elsewhere in the Word circumstances of cross-gender discipleship (e.g. Timothy was discipled by two female family members). Some have speculated that Paul’s phrase “... quietly with all submissiveness.” applied specifically to women when they were learning from men. (There is an inference in the text immediately-following that this is his possible intent.)]
Paul addressed the relationship of men and women in both Christian discipleship and in Christian life “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. She must remain quiet.”
[Note: This is culturally-controversial in modern times, and some have speculated that it may have been an accommodation to cultural norms of his time; however, Paul did not seem to avoid challenging local traditions where they violated the teachings of Christ and the text following does not appear to support that view. “She must remain quiet.” does appear to modify a woman’s relationship to a man in authority, especially in circumstances where a matter of Biblical teaching and Biblical authority were involved. Elsewhere, Paul narrowed a similar phrase to public gatherings and to married women interacting with their husband in public.]
He provided the reason for his submission of a woman to a man in matters of learning and teaching, “For Adam was formed first and then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, because she was fully deceived, fell into transgression.”
[Note: This is even more culturally-controversial in the modern cultural than is his teaching about silence and submission. Paul appears to not only denote a hierarchy based on the ancient order of Creation (of Adam and Eve) but also one based on the circumstances of the Fall; Eve chose to accept the accusation of Satan against God and to directly disobey the Lord God by eating of the forbidden fruit—thus already breaching the law and triggering the consequences—at least upon herself. Eve then multiplied her violation by recruiting Adam to repeat her rebellion. (There is no evidence in the Biblical text that Adam was directly confronted by the serpent. See the Genesis Study of Chapter 3.)]
Paul concluded “But she will be delivered through childbearing, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.”
[Note: As the NET translator’s notes observe this has historically been a difficult phrase to interpret. If one begins at the end “... if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.” one gets a good sense of the parallel with Paul’s instructions to the men. Looking at the first half “... delivered through childbearing” may have been Paul’s cryptic link back to vs 2:4 “... since he wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”, the same motive as for the men—. So one might read this text as follows “If the woman continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control, because the Lord God wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth, she (a euphemism for fallen humankind) will be delivered through childbearing – the birth of Jesus to Mary.”
Interaction
Consider
Prayer for leaders and the conduct of Christian men and women is emphasized “... since he wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”
Discuss
Do you (or your fellowship) take Paul’s teaching “So I want the men to pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dispute.” to also apply to women since he says “*Likewise* the women are to dress in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control” or as two separate instructions to two separate genders?
Reflect
The unique work of Christ “For there is one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time.” informed Paul’s instructions to men and women to be intentionally holy in everything that they did “... since he (God) wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”
Share
When have you observed an example of women freed from the yoke of learning-oppression, perhaps heard during a report from foreign missionaries? What blessings that flowed into and through those women once they were allowed to study the Word of God?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you a place in your life where you are failing to pray for leaders with a right heart.
Action:
Today I will recognize “... since he wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” I must select at least one leader for whose salvation I will pray. I will recruit at least one other to join me in that prayer.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Tuesday (1 Timothy 3)
Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons
3:1 This saying is trustworthy: “If someone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.”
3:2 The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, 3:3 not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money.
3:4 He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity.
3:5 But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God?
3:6 He must not be a recent convert or he may become arrogant and fall into the punishment that the devil will exact.
3:7 And he must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil’s trap.
3:8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not two-faced, not given to excessive drinking, not greedy for gain,
3:9 holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
3:10 And these also must be tested first and then let them serve as deacons if they are found blameless.
3:11 Likewise also their wives must be dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in every respect.
3:12 Deacons must be husbands of one wife and good managers of their children and their own households.
3:13 For those who have served well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Conduct in God’s Church
3:14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you
3:15 in case I am delayed, to let you know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, because it is the church of the living God, the support and bulwark of the truth.
3:16 And we all agree, our religion contains amazing revelation: He was revealed in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
Prayer
Lord, You desire “overseers” to serve as the spiritual leaders of fellowships of believers and “deacons” to support them, and members to respect them. May I serve when called and follow when led.
Summary & Commentary
Paul presented the qualifications for “Overseers” and “Deacons” and reminded Christians of the reason for the Lord God’s expectations of them “in the household of God.”
He honored ones desire to serve an an “Overseer”, an apparent higher rank than that of Deacon as Paul chooses to add the phrase “... care for the church of God”, whereas he did not in his description of a Deacon.
An Overseer may be thought of as the one selected to be the leader of the Deacons or perhaps as the shepherd (pastor) of a fellowship, serving both as the Overseer of the Deacons and as Overseer of the discernment of God’s message and specific local ministry for God’s local “Church” (fellowship of believers).
[Note: The Bible elsewhere describes an “Elder” as a spiritual leader and a “Deacon” as one who cares for other matters in the fellowship. It is unclear if the intent is for the roles to be merged in a small fellowship and divided in a larger fellowship; this was the circumstance when the Lord God led Jethro to encourage Moses to delegate (Exodus 18), and later the Apostles to delegate in Acts 6:1-7. Acts 20:28 also shares some common text together with the term “Overseers”.]
Qualifications include:
“... above reproach” [Living intentionally to honor God, though not perfectly so.]
“... the husband of one wife” [See discussion below.]
“... temperate” [Abusing no substance, including food intake, elsewhere labeled “gluttony”.]
“... self-controlled” [Not impetuous nor prone to surges of erratic behavior or speech.]
“... respectable” [Respectful of social mores, responsible, mature, ethical, moral.]
“... hospitable” [Friendly, welcoming, sociable, generous.]
“... an able teacher” [Communicates well, explains well, models and encourages learning.]
“... not a drunkard” [No substance abuse.]
“... not violent” [Improperly so with his family or others. Does not mean a pacifist, nor non-discipline of a disobedient or disrespectful child.]
“... but gentle” [Considerate of others, listening, encouraging, many more “hugs” than “hits”.]
“... not contentious” [Not always needing own way, not seeking arguments, not a critical spirit.]
“... free from the love of money” [A good steward but not fearful of need, covetous of wealth.]
“He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity.” [Without hysteria, neglect, or tyranny, all of which would cause him to lose “his dignity”.]
“He must not be a recent convert ...” [Paul warns that rushing a new believer into the role of an Overseer may set him up to fail to the point of immature blasphemy leading to the chastisement of God. The NET translator’s notes direct one to 1 Tim. 1:20 for clarification.]
“He must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil’s trap.” [His testimony and witness should be consistent.]
Paul’s qualifications for Overseer included one controversial (in modern times), though unnecessarily considered controversial, element “... the husband of one wife”. The text only requires this if a candidate is married that he not be polygamous. (This was, apparently, a significant concern in certain regions at the time.)
[Note: Nothing in the text requires that one be married nor that one never have been divorced, any more than it requires that he never have been widowed or poor (the extreme of “free of the love of money”) or that he abstain totally from any form of alcohol (the extreme form of “not a drunkard”). Trustworthy scholarship requires that one apply a standard equally to all of the text and not selectively due to a preconceived extra-Biblical template, imposing the preferences and/or traditions of man upon the sovereign text of God.]
The qualifications for the office of Deacon are similar to that of an Overseer. The apparent intent of Paul is to contrast the role of Deacon to that of an Overseer as he chose “... care for the church of God” to set them apart.
Paul concluded with a reminder that the Lord God’s expectations of Christians “... in the household of God” was because “... it is the church of the living God, the support and bulwark of the truth.”
And finally, a summary of the creed of the Christian Church (every believer) “And we all agree, our religion contains amazing revelation. He was revealed in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up on glory.”
Interaction
Consider
Do you see evidence of Paul’s checklist for Overseers and Deacons in those under whose authority you sit? If not you need to prayerfully consider relocating to where your leaders meet the Biblical mandate.
Discuss
What are some practical ways to evaluate potential Overseers and Deacons, however your fellowship may denote the roles (e.g. bishop, shepherd, pastor, minister, elder, deacon)?
Reflect
The Lord God’s expectations of Christians “... in the household of God” is because “... it is the church of the living God, the support and bulwark of the truth.”
Share
When have you observed a process that has resulted in the selection of fully qualified Overseers and Deacons versus one where the Biblical requirements were either not enforced or were somehow distorted? Compare and contrast the consequences.
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you if the Lord God is calling you to some form of leadership, and if so, to apply Paul’s checklist to your walk with Christ.
Action:
Today I will remember that grace applies, that repentance and forgiveness remove condemnation and exclusion, and that the Lord God never expects perfection of us in this world.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Wednesday (1 Timothy 4)
Timothy’s Ministry in the Later Times
4:1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings,
4:2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.
4:3 They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
4:4 For every creation of God is good and no food is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.
4:5 For it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.
4:6 By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
4:7 But reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible, and train yourself for godliness.
4:8 For “physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.”
4:9 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. 4:10 In fact this is why we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.
4:11 Command and teach these things.
4:12 Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity.
4:13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
4:14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, given to you and confirmed by prophetic words when the elders laid hands on you.
4:15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress.
4:16 Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
Prayer
Lord, You have warned us that some will lose sight of grace and drift into legalism and the idolatry of preference and tradition. May I be alert to such distortions and bold in challenging them.
Summary & Commentary
Paul delivered a warning from the Holy Spirit of troubles to come, “liars” will lead people to “desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings”
Additional elements of their false teachings:
“They will prohibit marriage ...”
“They will ... require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”
He then defined the freedom of the believer through grace and truth “... every creation of God is good and no food is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.”
Paul mentored Timothy to lead “By pointing out these things to the brothers and sisters ...”
“... reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible”
“... train yourself for godliness”
“Command and teach these things.”
“Let no one look down on you because you are young …”
[Young in age, yet an early-in-life “elder” due to Paul’s mentoring.]
“... set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity.”
“... give attention to the public reading of scripture”
“... give attention ... to exhortation”
“... give attention ... to teaching”
“Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have” [To exhort and teach and model right-living.]
Paul amplified the modeling-purpose of Timothy’s ministry “Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress.”
[Note: Leaders are required by the Lord God to demonstrate their own spiritual growth as a model for those whom have been entrusted to them. No leader “has arrived”, no leader should pretend to be without the need to learn and to grow, and no leader should be fearful about acknowledging areas needing improvement; thereafter, demonstrating progress toward maturity. A leader who fails to model their own “progress” is acting out of fear and/or arrogance and is not in obedience to God.]
He concluded “Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.”
[Note: Timothy would be speaking to the saved, so their salvation was not at risk, so what they would be saved from is chastisement from the Lord God if they drifted into the influence of the false teachers.]
Interaction
Consider
The constant threat of the enemy using deceit to lead people astray, especially through those who misrepresent themselves as men and women of God.
Discuss
What are some ways that you, and your fellowship, may better defend itself against the fads and falsehoods of careless and false teachers.
Reflect
Timothy was expected to walk confidently, yet transparently, teaching fearlessly the truth of God while modeling God’s continuing work in his own life.
Share
A practical example of a leader whom you have observed who lived as Paul instructed Timothy. Did you observe a positive impact upon those who followed this leader?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal a place in your walk as a Biblical-Christian where you have drifted into fads or falsehoods which are not consistent with the pure truth of the Lord God and to also reveal to you any place where you are modeling or teaching things (perhaps entertainment or lifestyle-choices) that are not clearly Biblical, or have been pretending to be perfect rather than transparently allowing others to see God’s maturing work in you—as an encouragement to them.
Action:
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement, and to hold me accountable, as I move toward a more intentionally-Biblical and mature walk with Christ in these areas.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Thursday (1 Timothy 5)
Instructions about Specific Groups
5:1 Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers,
5:2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters – with complete purity.
5:3 Honor widows who are truly in need.
5:4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them. For this is what pleases God.
5:5 But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own, has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day.
5:6 But the one who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.
5:7 Reinforce these commands, so that they will be beyond reproach.
5:8 But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
5:9 No widow should be put on the list unless she is at least sixty years old, was the wife of one husband,
5:10 and has a reputation for good works: as one who has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress – as one who has exhibited all kinds of good works.
5:11 But do not accept younger widows on the list, because their passions may lead them away from Christ and they will desire to marry,
5:12 and so incur judgment for breaking their former pledge.
5:13 And besides that, going around from house to house they learn to be lazy, and they are not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not.
5:14 So I want younger women to marry, raise children, and manage a household, in order to give the adversary no opportunity to vilify us.
5:15 For some have already wandered away to follow Satan.
5:16 If a believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need.
5:17 Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching.
5:18 For the scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker deserves his pay.”
5:19 Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses.
5:20 Those guilty of sin must be rebuked before all, as a warning to the rest.
5:21 Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind.
5:22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily and so identify with the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
5:23 (Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine for your digestion and your frequent illnesses.)
5:24 The sins of some people are obvious, going before them into judgment, but for others, they show up later.
5:25 Similarly good works are also obvious, and the ones that are not cannot remain hidden.
Prayer
Lord, You set-apart leaders and hold them accountable to a higher-standard as they speak with authority into the family of Your children. May I be careful to honor You and Your Word.
Summary & Commentary
Paul continued his mentoring of Timothy as a leader.
“Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father ...”
“Speak to younger men as brothers ...”
“Speak to ... older women as mothers ...”
“Speak to ... younger women as sisters—with complete purity.”
“Honor widows truly in need ...”
“... children and grandchildren ... repay parents” [Care for parents rather than dumping them on others.}
“... the one (widow) who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.” [Not deserving support.]
“... if someone (a believer) does not provide for his own (a believing and God-honoring parent or fellow believing widow in genuine need) ... he has denied the faith (is in rebellion, not lost to salvation) and is worse than an unbeliever.” [An unbeliever doesn’t know any better, a believer does.]
“No widow should be put on the list unless she is at least sixty years old [A presumption of her capacity to remarry or to earn a living somehow.], was the wife of one husband, [If she was polygamous she was both in rebellion against God and still has at least one husband to support her.] and has a reputation for good works;
“... who has raised children
and/or
“... who has ... practiced hospitality”
and/or
“... who has ... washed the feet of the saints”
and/or
“... who has ... helped those in distress”
such that they are
“... one who has exhibited all kinds of good works.”
“But do not accept younger widows on the list ...”
[Note: Paul wanted to avoid younger widows living off of the fellowship, based on a pledge to devote the rest of their lives to service, only to respond to the flesh and break that pledge by remarrying. He instead encouraged them to remarry]
Paul also reminds a believing woman of her responsibility to “... widows in her family” so that she does not misunderstand the responsibility to be only that of the men or others in the fellowship.
He continued “Elders who provide effective leadership ...” [The title “Elder” is imprecise as it may refer either to a Deacon or an Overseer, as described earlier in Paul’s first letter to Timothy; however, the term elsewhere tends to refer to one who is more of a spiritual leader than a helper and given the text immediately following appears to emphasize specifically preachers and teachers, but not exclusively so.]
“... must be counted worthy of double honor [respect and financial compensation], especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching.” Paul cited Deut. 25:4 as his authority.
“Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses. Those guilty of sin must be rebuked before all, as a warning to the rest.” [Paul elsewhere outlined the process for bringing and evaluating charges against a brother.]
“... carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind.”
“Do not lay hands on anyone hastily ...” [To avoid an apparent problem he had observed among other leaders-of-leaders choosing poor leaders.]
Paul noted that not all sins are immediately obvious but that good works are, therefore Timothy was to be patient in calling people into leadership—giving time for hidden sin to show itself while good works added to their good report.
Interaction
Consider
Paul set boundaries for the care of widows—most critical that they be elderly, they be believers, they not have other means of support, and that they have a history of serving others.
Discuss
How is an “elder”, spiritual leader, defined within your fellowship and how does an “elder” receive the “double honor” due him—as described by Paul?
Reflect
Paul mentored Timothy using directives and explanations, and he insisted that Timothy avoid “prejudice or favoritism of any kind.”
Share
When have you observed an example of either the care of widows, or one of cautious-patience in the calling of leaders, and how that worked-out—well or poorly—in your fellowship?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone in leadership at your fellowship with whom he wants you to compare and contrast the instructions of Paul with the policies and practices of your fellowship.
Action:
Today I will discuss this chapter with the one whom the Holy Spirit has identified. It may be an ‘official’ elder or one who has retired from active leadership or perhaps the spouse of an elder. If we discover differences we will prayerfully discern if there is a need for change. If I cannot meet with a person in leadership I will do the comparison myself and pray that the leadership will respond appropriately to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to bring policy and/or practice into line with the Word of God.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Friday (1 Timothy 6:1-10)
6:1 Those who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters as deserving of full respect. This will prevent the name of God and Christian teaching from being discredited.
6:2 But those who have believing masters must not show them less respect because they are brothers. Instead they are to serve all the more, because those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved.
Summary of Timothy’s Duties
Teach them and exhort them about these things.
6:3 If someone spreads false teachings and does not agree with sound words (that is, those of our Lord Jesus Christ) and with the teaching that accords with godliness,
6:4 he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions,
6:5 and constant bickering by people corrupted in their minds and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a way of making a profit.
6:6 Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit.
6:7 For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either.
6:8 But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that.
6:9 Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.
Prayer
Lord, You provide all that we need to be contented wherever we are, and You show us how to be godly as well. May I not be envious of others and thereby discontent, nor drawn into their worldly ways and thereby less-godly.
Summary & Commentary
Paul reminded those who are slaves (or bondservants) to an unbeliever must interact with their human “master” with full respect, so that their testimony as Christians will not be compromised.
[Note: This may be extrapolated to an employee-boss relationship where the boss is an unbeliever. Also, if one cannot serve ones boss with respect, either due to an unacceptably (spiritually) vexing work environment or demands by their boss that they violate the ethical standards of the Lord God then one must leave, rather than remain and be disrespectful.]
He instructed those with believing “masters” to serve even more respectfully because they are both children of a loving God.
[Note: Again, this may be extrapolated to the employee-boss relationship. Also, if a believing boss does not conduct himself/herself in a Biblically appropriate manner, and they are un-teachable—the believing employee may need to change jobs rather to remain where respect is difficult or impossible.]
Paul reviewed Timothy’s duty to “teach them and exhort them about these things”:
“... someone who spreads false teachings ... corrupted in their minds ... suppose that godliness is a way of making a profit ...
“Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into a trap and many senseless and harmful desires ... For the love of money is a root of many evils ...”
[NET Translator’s Notes: This latter phrase is sometimes rendered “For the love of money is the root of all evils.” but that hyperbole lends itself to all manner of misunderstanding, so the superior rendering has been provided.]
Interaction
Consider
Paul’s emphasis in Timothy’s teaching presents a consistent message for slave, non-slave, rich and poor man alike—if you are a Christian then live like one. Treat others with honor and respect, no matter their station in life.
Discuss
What are some practical ways to apply Paul’s teaching in the workplace, especially where the circumstances are sometimes challenging?
Reflect
The linkage between “... someone who spreads false teachings” and Paul’s description that they are “... corrupted in their minds” implies spiritual deception – or worse.
Share
What is an example of a challenging workplace and how you handled a difficult relationship with a saved or unsaved boss? If you have been blessed to serve a good saved boss how was that experience unique?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where you are doing well or poorly at His assignment to treat others with honor and respect no matter their station in life.
Action:
Today, where I discover that I fall short, I will ask the Holy Spirit to guide and chastise me until I get right with Him.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Saturday (1 Timothy 6:11-21)
6:11 But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.
6:12 Compete well for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession for in the presence of many witnesses.
6:13 I charge you before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate,
6:14 to obey this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ
6:15 – whose appearing the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time.
6:16 He alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen.
6:17 Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.
6:18 Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.
6:19 In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.
Conclusion
6:20 O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and absurdities of so-called “knowledge.”
6:21 By professing it, some have strayed from the faith. Grace be with you all.
Prayer
Lord, You informed Pontius Pilate, Your disciples and apostles, and all of the world Who You Are and why You came. May I be as faithful as Timothy to share Your Gospel and to live according to the faith You have affirmed in me through Your indwelling Holy Spirit.
Summary & Commentary
Key elements of Paul’s reference to “Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate” may be found in Matthew 27 and John 18. Pilate was a functionally-secular leader trapped between Jesus and the religious leaders. The spiritual warfare was so profound that Pilate’s wife “... suffered greatly as the result of a dream” and sent him a note warning him that Jesus was innocent.
The specific text to which Paul referred was “18:36 Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 18:37 Then Pilate said, “So you are a king!” Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world – to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 18:38 Pilate asked, “What is truth?”“
Paul returned to the positive for Timothy:
“Instead, pursue righteousness ...”
“... godliness”
“... faithfulness”
“... love”
“... endurance”
“... and gentleness”
“Compete well for the faith ...”
“Command those who are rich in this world’s goods to not be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain but on God ... to be rich in good deeds ... In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation and so lay hold of what is truly life.”
Paul concluded his first letter to Timothy with a plea for continued faithfulness and a prayer “Grace be with you all.”
Interaction
Consider
If you are a Christian then live like one. “Instead, pursue righteousness ... godliness ... faithfulness ... love ... endurance ... and gentleness”. “Compete well for the faith ...”
Discuss
Would it help you, or members of your fellowship, to remain strong in Christ if they were reminded now and then of the testimony of Jesus before Pilate (in John 18), since Paul thought it would help Timothy?
Reflect
Timothy was young and surrounded by immature, selfish, and vain people – typical of fallen humankind – yet was challenged to live and to teach righteousness.
Share
When have you observed a 'Timothy'? A young person sold-out to the Lord yet challenged all-about to sell-out?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where you are doing well or poorly at His assignment to “.. pursue righteousness ... godliness ... faithfulness ... love ... endurance ... and gentleness …” and to ... “Compete well for the faith ...”.
Action:
Today, where I discover that I fall short, I will ask the Holy Spirit to guide and chastise me until I get right with Him.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – The series, “1 Timothy” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in March of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
2 Timothy
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Book Introduction
The prior Section
Sunday (2 Timothy 1)
Salutation
1:1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to further the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
1:2 to Timothy, my dear child. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!
Thanksgiving and Charge to Timothy
1:3 I am thankful to God, whom I have served with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I remember you in my prayers as I do constantly night and day.
1:4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
1:5 I recall your sincere faith that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you.
1:6 Because of this I remind you to rekindle God’s gift that you possess through the laying on of my hands.
1:7 For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.
1:8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, a prisoner for his sake, but by God’s power accept your share of suffering for the gospel.
1:9 He is the one who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
1:10 but now made visible through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus. He has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel!
1:11 For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher.
1:12 Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day.
1:13 Hold to the standard of sound words that you heard from me and do so with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
1:14 Protect that good thing entrusted to you, through the Holy Spirit who lives within us.
1:15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my imprisonment.
1:17 But when he arrived in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me.
1:18 May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day! And you know very well all the ways he served me in Ephesus.
Prayer
Lord, You will protect Your Word, You ask that we be faithful and persistent in bringing it to Your children and beyond. May I be found fearlessly-faithful for Your truth.
Summary & Commentary
Paul greeted Timothy, restating his certainty of a calling from God, and restating his affection for him “... my dear child”. He also notes that he prays for him “day and night”.
He then revisited Timothy’s spiritual heritage “I recall your sincere faith that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure (convinced) is in you.”
He challenged Timothy “... to rekindle God’s gift that you possess through the laying on of hands.”
[Note: The gift is Timothy’s call to leadership, confirmed when the apostle Paul laid hands upon him.]
Paul continued “For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
“... by God’s power accept your share of suffering for the gospel. He is the one who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made visible through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus.”
He concluded the chapter, listing those who abandoned him in his imprisonment, and celebrating Onesiphorus who was “unashamed” and “often refreshed” him.
Interaction
Consider
Paul’s challenge “For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Discuss
What are some practical ways to “... by God’s power accept your share of suffering for the gospel.”?
Reflect
What does it mean to you that God “... called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made visible through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus.”?
Share
When have you become aware of someone with a spiritual heritage, a transfer of authority and opportunity, like Timothy? Did it lead to a ministry with the clear power and purpose of Timothy’s or did it instead become more of a continuation of man’s tradition than a powerful relationship (with the Lord God) – both personal and poured-out through a calling for life?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any evidence of “... a Spirit of fear”.
Action:
Today I am committing to partner with the Holy Spirit as He affirms His gift “... of power and love and self-control.”
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Monday (2 Timothy 2:1-13)
Serving Faithfully Despite Hardship
2:1 So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2:2 And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.
2:3 Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2:4 No one in military service gets entangled in matters of everyday life; otherwise he will not please the one who recruited him.
2:5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he will not be crowned as the winner unless he competes according to the rules.
2:6 The farmer who works hard ought to have the first share of the crops.
2:7 Think about what I am saying and the Lord will give you understanding of all this.
2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David; such is my gospel,
2:9 for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonment as a criminal, but God’s message is not imprisoned!
2:10 So I endure all things for the sake of those chosen by God, that they too may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and its eternal glory.
2:11 This saying is trustworthy: If we died with him, we will also live with him.
2:12 If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us.
2:13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself.
Prayer
Lord, You don't promise a trouble-free brief stay on earth but rather an eternity in the perfection of Heaven, for those who exchange this world to become Your children. May I take the suffering with the blessings and remain faithful.
Summary & Commentary
Paul greeted Timothy with a wonderful phrase “... be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”.
He instructed Timothy to raise up leaders among those whom God brings to his fellowship “... entrust what you heard me say. in the presence of many others as witnesses. to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.”
[Note: It is a serious failing of leadership that every leader has not consistently mentored one or more in leadership and in teaching so as to multiply themselves. It is also a violation of this clear command of the Lord God. One may speculate that it is out of fear of being displaced, an unwillingness to invest in others, and/or ignorance of the Word of God. The result has been the delegation of leadership training to para-church institutions.]
Paul exhorted Timothy “Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”, making certain that he would not be surprised by or unprepared for troubles sure to come from a world that hates the gospel.
He warned Timothy to avoid entanglement in the things of the world, to train and to compete energetically and ethically, and to not refuse reasonable compensation from those whom he serves.
Paul summarized what it is that Timothy must emphasize “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David [through Mary] ...” then continued:
“If we died with Him we will also live with Him.” [Salvation requires a spiritual rebirthing.]
“If we endure, we will also reign with Him.” [He rewards obedience.]
“If we deny Him, he will also deny us.” [This applies only to the unsaved.]
“If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself.”
[He has guaranteed our salvation is recorded in “the Lamb’s Book of Life, the indwelling Holy Spirit is God’s “first downpayment” on our guarantee of eternal life with God, and a contract with God can never be canceled by mere man.]
Paul commissioned Timothy to “Remind people of these things ...”, both the gospel and the instructions for right-living before God.
Interaction
Consider
Paul reminded Timothy of the centrality of Gospel and of right-living before God.
Discuss
What are some practical ways “... to avoid entanglement in the things of the world”? (e.g.busy oneself with the things of the Kingdom, have Christian-accountability for lifestyle and priorities.)
Reflect
Paul’s instruction to Timothy to raise up leaders among those whom God brings to his fellowship “... entrust what you heard me say. in the presence of many others as witnesses. to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.” Is this being obeyed in your fellowship and your life?
Share
When have you observed an example of a Christian leader mentoring someone who then stepped-into leadership?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal you a Christian leader who has been imprisoned for his faith somewhere in the world.
Action:
Today I will pray for the prisoner-of-faith and will recruit others to pray in-agreement. As may be appropriate we will also encourage those imprisoning him or her to release them, we will contact our government officials to request that they lobby on behalf of the prisoner, and we will tell others via electronic, written, and in-person communications.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Tuesday (2 Timothy 2:14-26)
Dealing with False Teachers
2:14 Remind people of these things and solemnly charge them before the Lord not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen.
2:15 Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.
2:16 But avoid profane chatter, because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness,
2:17 and their message will spread its infection like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are in this group.
2:18 They have strayed from the truth by saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are undermining some people’s faith.
2:19 However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.”
2:20 Now in a wealthy home there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also ones made of wood and of clay, and some are for honorable use, but others for ignoble use.
2:21 So if someone cleanses himself of such behavior, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
2:22 But keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
2:23 But reject foolish and ignorant controversies, because you know they breed infighting.
2:24 And the Lord’s slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient,
2:25 correcting opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth
2:26 and they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive to do his will.
Prayer
Lord, You have counseled us to “... reject foolish and ignorant controversies, because you know they breed infighting.” Among my fellow children of the Lord God may I be known as one who listens more than I speak, who encourages more than I correct, and one who brings words of peace rather than of conflict.
Summary & Commentary
Paul warned Timothy to resist the false teachers who led people into “... wrangling over words”, what He characterizes as “... of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen.”
He challenged Timothy “Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.”
Paul gave Timothy one key to recognize the false teachers, and to avoid drifting into their error “But avoid profane chatter ... their message will spread its infection like gangrene ... saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are undermining come people’s faith.”
He reassured Timothy that the Lord God’s plan was sure “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must torn away from evil.”
Paul used the illustration of vessels in the home, some used for clean things, others for refuse. He notes that a person in-rebellion was like the unclean vessel, but once cleansed by the Lord God he became useful to God’s good purposes.
He provided Timothy a checklist of do’s and don’ts to do “... in company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart:
“... keep away from youthful passions”
“... pursue righteousness”
“... pursue ... faithfulness”
“... pursue ... love”
“... pursue ... peace”
“... reject foolish and ignorant controversies, because you know they breed infighting. And the Lord’s slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all”
“... the Lord’s slave must ... be an apt teacher”
“... the Lord’s slave must ... be patient”
“... the Lord’s slave must ... correct(ing) opponents with gentleness “
Paul noted that when “... the Lord’s slave” does these things “Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth and then they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive to do his will.”
[Note: Paul was speaking of Timothy’s interactions with the unsaved, the Lord God’s decision to “... grant them repentance” was based on His knowledge of their hearts and therefore their capacity to respond to truth, and he was reminding Timothy that every unsaved person is “captive” to “the devil”.]
Interaction
Consider
“Wrangling over words ...” was discouraged as bringing conflict without wisdom.
Discuss
What are some practical ways to implement Paul’s checklist of do’s and don’ts to do “... in company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart” in your fellowship and your life.
Reflect
Even though we allow tests to become temptations and therefore render ourselves as vessels for the Lord God to use to bless others He will lead us back to righteousness, make us clean, and then pour His blessings in and through us.
Share
When have you experienced or observed an example of a “... Lord’s slave” interacting with an unbeliever and that person moving toward Christ such that God “... grant(ed) them repentance” and they were saved?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any place in your walk where you fall short in Paul’s checklist of do’s and don’ts, including the avoidance of “profane chatter”.
Action:
Today I will celebrate with the Holy Spirit the places where I am doing well and will ask Him to empower me to mature in the areas where I am weak. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement with me and to hold me accountable where I need to grow.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Wednesday (2 Timothy 3:1-9)
Ministry in the Last Days
3:1 But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
3:2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3:3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good,
3:4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God.
3:5 They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.
3:6 For some of these insinuate themselves into households and captivate weak women who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions.
3:7 Such women are always seeking instruction, yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
3:8 And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people – who have warped minds and are disqualified in the faith – also oppose the truth.
3:9 But they will not go much further, for their foolishness will be obvious to everyone, just like it was with Jannes and Jambres.
Prayer
Lord, You have warned of “... difficult days to come”, and You provided Your indwelling Holy Spirit to carry us through. In times of trouble may I remember to lean on You.
Summary & Commentary
Paul warned “... in the last days difficult times will come.” he then listed the symptoms:
“... people will be lovers of themselves”
“... lovers of money”
“... boastful”
“... arrogant”
“... blasphemers”
“... disobedient to parents”
“... ungrateful”
“... unholy”
“... unloving”
“... irreconcilable”
“... slanderers”
“... without self-control”
“... savage”
“... opposed to what is good”
“... treacherous”
“... reckless”
“... conceited”
“... loving pleasure rather than loving God”
“They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power.”
“... some of these insinuate themselves into households and captivate weak women who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions. Such women are always seeking instruction, yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of truth.
“... these people—who have warped minds and are disqualified in the faith—also oppose the truth. But they will not go much further, for their foolishness will be obvious to everyone “
Interaction
Consider
Paul’s list of “symptoms” which are evidence of the last days of “difficult times to come”. Do you see them converging together across humanity as never before?
Discuss
Isn’t it amazing the “... weak women who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions. Such women are always seeking instruction, yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of truth.” How might your fellowship do a better job of discipling them and of connecting them to peer-accountability so that they become spiritually strong?
Reflect
Are you struggling with any of the “symptoms” listed by Paul?
Share
When have you observed people with influence in a fellowship who maintained “... the outward appearance of religion but ... repudiated its power?”
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you anything from Paul’s list of “symptoms” which are evidence of the last days of “difficult times to come”.
Action:
Today I will partner with the Holy Spirit as He helps me to endure the challenges and to continue to share His Word.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Thursday (2 Timothy 3:10-17)
Continue in What You Have Learned
3:10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance,
3:11 as well as the persecutions and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra. I endured these persecutions and the Lord delivered me from them all.
3:12 Now in fact all who want to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
3:13 But evil people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.
3:14 You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you
3:15 and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
3:16 Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
3:17 that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.
Prayer
Lord, You have given us role-models, Your Word, and equipped us “... for every good work.” May I emulate Your role-model, apply, obey, and teach Your Word, and never cease from doing Your good work.
Summary & Commentary
Paul was coach and mentor to Timothy, intentionally modeling for him right-living and sound leadership.
He warned him of conflict to come, as he had seen while traveling with Paul, but from inside and outside of the fellowship of believers (both from deceived-believers and fakes).
Paul reminded Timothy of the value of his discipleship and knowledge of the Word:
“You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus,”
“Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and in training in righteousness. for the person dedicated to Go may be capable and equipped for every good work.”
Interaction
Consider
The Lord God disciples and equips those whom He calls to leadership.
Discuss
If you were in Timothy’s position would you be somewhat intimidated by the circumstances and tasks before you?
Reflect
The Lord God provided “... scripture [that] is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and in training in righteousness. for the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.”
Share
When have you observed an example of a practical application, in your life, of “Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and in training in righteousness. for the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.”?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a situation where you are, or are about to be, persecuted for your faith.
Action:
Today I will read this text again, ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement for protection and wisdom, and stand my ground for the Lord God.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Friday (2 Timothy 4:1-8)
Charge to Timothy Repeated
4:1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
4:2 Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction.
4:3 For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.
4:4 And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths.
4:5 You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.
4:6 For I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for me to depart is at hand.
4:7 I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith!
4:8 Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day – and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing.
Prayer
Lord, we are to be fearless in sharing Your Gospel, resilient in resisting distractions and apostasy. May I be Your faithful instrument, however and wherever You choose to use me.
Summary & Commentary
Paul concluded his second and final letter to Timothy with a review of what he has taught him about leadership as a shepherd, beginning with Whose authority he is asserting “I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom”
[Note: “... his appearing and his kingdom” may be taken it two ways, that Paul’s “solemn charge” is authoritative because it is approved by the Lord God, Christ Jesus, Who will judge all and who appeared to us in the flesh on the earth and Who established His kingdom, or, Him Who will return/appear again and Who will literally establish—or complete—His kingdom following His return and judgment.]
He then provided a checklist of instructions:
“Preach the message ...”
“... be ready whether it is convenient or not”
“... reprove ... with complete patience and instruction.” [challenge to know what they believe and why]
“... rebuke ... with complete patience and instruction.” [challenge false teaching]
“... exhort ... with complete patience and instruction.” [challenge to act from faith, or submit in faith]
Paul then warned Timothy again of the changes that were coming “For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching.”, they will seek teachers who will promote myths and other non-Biblical teaching.
He instructed Timothy further “... be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.”
Paul concluded by stating that he is about to die for his faithfulness and others need to be willing to do the same, knowing that God will keep His promises “... to all who have set their affection on his appearing.”
Interaction
Consider
The exhortation of Paul to Timothy “... be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.” How are you doing with those things?
Discuss
What are some practical ways to implement the checklist of instructions for Timothy? Where do you see these practiced in your life of ministry (the ministry of all believers), and where do you need to consider discipleship, opportunity, and sacrifice to cause them to be realized in your ministry?
Reflect
Paul reminded Timothy (and us) that the Lord God is always watching, always cares, and always chooses the eternal consequences of our choices. He has chosen to work out His plan though us, but reserves the right to work out His plan despite us, should we choose to be less-than-cooperative.
Share
When have you observed an example of “... people [who] will not tolerate sound teaching.”, they will seek teachers who will present myths and other non-Biblical teachings. What was the result?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you moments/places in your life where the Lord God is providing opportunities to reprove, rebuke, and exhort.
Action:
Today I will commit to His indwelling Holy Spirit to be a willing vessel through whom He may pour His wisdom and power so that those opportunities are fully actualized to His glory and purpose.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Saturday (2 Timothy 4:9-21)
Travel Plans and Concluding Greetings
4:9 Make every effort to come to me soon.
4:10 For Demas deserted me, since he loved the present age, and he went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia.
4:11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is a great help to me in ministry.
4:12 Now I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
4:13 When you come, bring with you the cloak I left in Troas with Carpas and the scrolls, especially the parchments.
4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him in keeping with his deeds.
4:15 You be on guard against him too, because he vehemently opposed our words.
4:16 At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me – may they not be held accountable for it.
4:17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed for all the Gentiles to hear. And so I was delivered from the lion’s mouth!
4:18 The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever! Amen.
4:19 Greetings to Prisca and Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus.
4:20 Erastus stayed in Corinth. Trophimus I left ill in Miletus.
4:21 Make every effort to come before winter. Greetings to you from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.
4:22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
Prayer
Lord, You know that Your people will often be weak, despite Your strength available to them through Your Holy Spirit. May I remember to endure and persevere in Your work not through my strength but rather Yours.
Summary & Commentary
Paul experienced the same abandonment when arrested and prosecuted as did Jesus.
He was delivered from his persecutors after the opportunity to share the Lord God’s Gospel with the “gentiles”; once again what the enemy meant for evil the Lord turned to good.
Paul used the OT imagery of Daniel in the lion’s den to describe his experience.
He counseled Timothy to beware of “Alexander the coppersmith” who was apparently influential and invested in opposing the Gospel.
Paul appealed to Timothy to join him and to gather some resources he had left-behind along the way.
Interaction
Consider
No matter how we may be attacked, for our faith, we may be certain that the Lord God will provide opportunities along the way to be a witness, and perhaps to even tell His story in words.
Discuss
How might we better prepare ourselves, and those around us, to stand firm in the face of attack?
Reflect
Paul was confident that the Lord would deliver him and bring him home to Heaven.
Share
When have you experienced or observed attacks for faith? How did those involve respond?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you at least one person who will stand faithfully by you should you be attacked for your faith.
Action:
Today I will encourage and pray for the one whom the Holy Spirit has revealed, and as is appropriate, will engage them in Bible study and fellowship so that we may both grow.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study, “2 Timothy” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in March of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Titus
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Book Introduction
The prior Section
Sunday (Titus 1:1-4)
Salutation
1:1 From Paul, a slave of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness,
1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began.
1:3 But now in his own time he has made his message evident through the preaching I was entrusted with according to the command of God our Savior.
1:4 To Titus, my genuine son in a common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior!
Prayer
Lord, Your promise of eternal life makes every genuine believer 'family', here on earth and forever. May I love and pray for family in Christ.
Summary & Commentary
Paul’s salutation to Titus included three notable elements; that his own calling was “... to further the faith of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of truth that is in keeping with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began”, that God “has made his message evident through the preaching”, and that Titus is “... my genuine son in a common faith”.
In using a phrase that may be loosely-translated “chosen ones” he was not promoting fatalistic predestination, sometimes referred to as double-predestination. Paul used this phrase interchangeably with “elect” and in most cases the the text clarifies that one is “chosen” or becomes “the elect” after responding to the invitation of the Holy Spirit. The New Testament texts are replete with stories of the intersection of the Gospel and individuals, some of who choose rightly, some of whom do not. The offer would not be made disingenuously, so the freedom to choose or to refuse must be equally legitimate.
The text then moves on to explain that based upon ones “hope of eternal life” [hope is in the Lord God who cannot fail] one is then furthered in their faith “... and the knowledge of truth” so as to enhance their godliness through preaching.
Paul concludes his salutation with the profound assertion that Titus is his “genuine son” because of their “common faith”.
Interaction
Consider
Paul’s affection for and trust in Titus is strong, based on a common salvation, and on a clear mission for which he has prepared him.
Discuss
When you read the text do you understand Paul to say that preaching is for evangelism, discipleship, or both?
Reflect
The promise of eternal life was made “... before the ages began”.
Share
When have you experienced preaching that moved you toward a greater commitment to godliness as it built-up your knowledge of the Lord God?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a preacher or teacher for whom He wants you to pray.
Action:
Today I will pray for a preacher or teacher who is faithful to the Word and an encourager of other leaders.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Monday (Titus 1:5-16)
Titus’ Task on Crete
1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
1:6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with faithful children who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion.
1:7 For the overseer must be blameless as one entrusted with God’s work, not arrogant, not prone to anger, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain.
1:8 Instead he must be hospitable, devoted to what is good, sensible, upright, devout, and self-controlled.
1:9 He must hold firmly to the faithful message as it has been taught, so that he will be able to give exhortation in such healthy teaching and correct those who speak against it.
1:10 For there are many rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections,
1:11 who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught.
1:12 A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
1:13 Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith
1:14 and not pay attention to Jewish myths and commands of people who reject the truth.
1:15 All is pure to those who are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
1:16 They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
Prayer
Lord, You instructed Paul to appointed “elders” as spiritual leaders, and Paul delegated that to Timothy and Titus and others – with careful instructions as to how to discern those who were appropriate for that role. When entrusted with leadership may I apply Paul's evaluation wisely, adding nothing, and deleting nothing.
Summary & Commentary
Paul reminded Titus “The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town”, he then reviews the qualifications for an elder:
“An elder must be blameless” [Not readily charged with a genuine offense, more blameless than most.]
“... the husband of one wife” [As noted in Timothy this is about non-polygamous, nothing else is required by the text.]
“... with faithful children who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion” [dissipation - unruly, drunken]
“... not arrogant”
“... not prone to anger”
“... not a drunkard”
“... not violent”
“... not greedy for gain”
“... must be hospitable”
“... devoted to what is good”
“... devoted to what is ... sensible”
“... devoted to what is ... upright”
“... devoted to what is ... devout”
“... devoted to what is ... self-controlled”
“... hold firmly to what has been taught”
“... give exhortation”
“... correct those who speak against it”
Paul reminded Titus that “there are many rebellious people ... rebuke them sharply”
He added “All is pure to those who are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure”
Paul concluded “They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.”
Interaction
Consider
The negative attributes Paul shared with Titus about an elder “... not arrogant”, “... not prone to anger”, “... not a drunkard”, “... not violent”, “... not greedy for gain” are also to be avoided by you, and the “elders” in your fellowship, how are you doing with these?
Discuss
What are some ways that you might do a better job living up to Paul’s list of attributes:
“An elder must be blameless” [Not readily charged with a genuine offense, more blameless than most.]
“... the husband of one wife” [As noted in Timothy this is about non-polygamous, nothing else is required by the text.]
“... with faithful children who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion” [dissipation - unruly, drunken]
“... must be hospitable”
“... devoted to what is good”
“... devoted to what is ... sensible”
“... devoted to what is ... upright”
“... devoted to what is ... devout”
“... devoted to what is ... self-controlled”
“... hold firmly to what has been taught”
“... give exhortation”
“... correct those who speak against it”
Reflect
Paul’s warned that “there are many rebellious people ... rebuke them sharply”, “All is pure to those who are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure”, “They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.” Have you observed any of these things in any leaders within a fellowship? What was the result?
Share
When have you observed a practical example of an “elder” who either did or did not live up to Paul’s list of attributes? Compare and contrast their witness and their fruit.
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one of Paul's lists of attributes for an “elder” which He wants you to meet more-completely in your life. (The attributes are about righteousness and most of them are goals for every believer.)
Action:
Today I will intentionally pursue maturity in the identified attribute, even if I am not an elder, until I am more rightly living according to it.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Tuesday (Titus 2:1-8)
Conduct Consistent with Sound Teaching
2:1 But as for you, communicate the behavior that goes with sound teaching.
2:2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.
2:3 Older women likewise are to exhibit behavior fitting for those who are holy, not slandering, not slaves to excessive drinking, but teaching what is good.
2:4 In this way they will train the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children,
2:5 to be self-controlled, pure, fulfilling their duties at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the message of God may not be discredited.
2:6 Encourage younger men likewise to be self-controlled,
2:7 showing yourself to be an example of good works in every way. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
2:8 and a sound message that cannot be criticized, so that any opponent will be at a loss, because he has nothing evil to say about us.
Prayer
Lord, You prompt us to “... communicate the behavior that goes with sound teaching”. May I be found increasingly-faithful in walking the same walk that I talk.
Summary & Commentary
The apostle Paul challenged Titus to a high-standard, not only teaching the principles of right-living with his words, but illustrating them with his life.
He instructed that older men model right-living for younger men and older women for younger women.
Paul also reminded Titus that a leader who matched his walk with his talk would leave no legitimate opportunity for critics of the faith.
Interaction
Consider
We are to “... communicate” in our lifestyle “... the behavior that goes with sound teaching”.
Discuss
How might we make older men and women in our fellowships more aware that they are role-models for the younger members?
Reflect
Nothing in this description for the men “... temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in endurance” includes abusive, bossy, dictatorial, disrespectful, or lazy.
Share
When have you observed an older man or woman truly striving for the standard Paul described for Titus? How did that impact others?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your walk that He wants to better match the talk.
Action:
Today I will ask a fellow-believer to be my accountability-partner and prayer-partner as I partner with the Holy Spirit to become more mature in my walk before Him.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Wednesday (Titus 2:9-15)
2:9 Slaves are to be subject to their own masters in everything, to do what is wanted and not talk back,
2:10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, in order to bring credit to the teaching of God our Savior in everything.
2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.
2:12 It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
2:13 as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
2:14 He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good.
2:15 So communicate these things with the sort of exhortation or rebuke that carries full authority. Don’t let anyone look down on you.
Prayer
Lord, You are most concerned about our integrity - which earns us the opportunity to be witnesses to Your power in our lives – regardless of circumstances. May I not excuse wrong choices based on difficult circumstances.
Summary & Commentary
Paul did not endorse slavery, he merely addressed the right-living of one who found themselves in bondage (before or after salvation).
He argued that one must live rightly before the Lord God and therefore also before man.
Paul reminded Titus that we are to see ourselves as the saved children of the Lord God and to therefore press-away the things of the world that would dirty us.
He concluded with encouragement for Titus to speak boldly, to not fear criticism, and to promote truth and challenge falsehoods.
Interaction
Consider
The Lord God does not want careless and worldly children who are useless, or worse, as instruments to bring His Gospel to the unsaved.
Discuss
How might your fellowship, especially the leaders, improve their exhortation and pursuit of purity?
Reflect
No matter how difficult ones circumstances one always has choices.
Share
When have you observed a leader who exhorted and rebuked, walked toward purity, and refused to allow difficulties to be an excuse for careless living?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a challenging situation which may become an opportunity to be a witness for Christ.
Action:
Today I will choose to rise above my circumstances, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and be a living-witness to the Lord God in my life.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Thursday (Titus 3:1-7)
Conduct Toward Those Outside the Church
3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work.
3:2 They must not slander anyone, but be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people.
3:3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another.
3:4 But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,
3:5 he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit,
3:6 whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior.
3:7 And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.”
Prayer
Lord, You “poured out on us … the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit”. May I be faithful to manage my conduct outside the fellowship of believers (The Church) so they might see You in me.
Summary & Commentary
Paul instructed Titus to teach believers to be appropriately law-abiding so that they might earn an opportunity to share the Gospel.
He added that believers were to be grace-filled, loving, and respectful toward all people.
Paul listed for Titus what was to be avoided:
· Foolishness
· Disobedience
· Being misled
· Being enslaved to various passions and desires
· Spending our lives in evil and envy
· Hating one another
He reminded Titus that the Lord God “... poured out on us … the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit”
Paul concluded that because humankind had no works of any value to earn any of the gift of salvation through Christ – believers were “... justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.”
Interaction
Consider
The Lord God did it all, we are asked to surrender the worthless in order to receive His gift of what is beyond any earthly measure of value.
Discuss
How might your fellowship more-effectively teach believers to be grace-filled, loving, and respectful toward all people?
Reflect
Believers are to be appropriately law-abiding so that they might earn an opportunity to share the Gospel.
Share
When have you experienced leadership that was truly grace-filled, loving, and respectful toward all people – regardless of physical appearance, gender, race, or social status?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to which of Paul's list He wants you to work on; foolishness, disobedience, being misled, being enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hating one another.
Action:
Today I will partner with/surrender to the Holy Spirit as He leads me to a more-mature walk. I will ask a fellow-believer to pray in-agreement and to be my accountability-partner.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Friday (Titus 3:8-11)
Summary of the Letter
3:8 This saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, so that those who have placed their faith in God may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good and beneficial for all people.
3:9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law, because they are useless and empty.
3:10 Reject a divisive person after one or two warnings.
3:11 You know that such a person is twisted by sin and is conscious of it himself.
Prayer
Lord, You have taught us to focus on our own walk before You and the simple story of Your Gospel, all of the rest are details. May I stay focused and not allow myself to be distracted by the less-important and miss-out on the most-important.
Summary & Commentary
Paul wanted Titus to be without doubt as to the integrity of his instructions.
His goal was to multiply the ministries of evangelism and discipleship; the latter so that believers were equipped to also multiply the ministry.
Paul warned against quibbling about minor matters, debates about genealogy, and the Law (which, for believers, was covered by Grace)
He taught that boundaries were necessary in fellowships so that “divisive” persons not disrupt and divide.
Paul explained to Titus that the divisive person knew that they were “twisted by sin”.
Interaction
Consider
Believers must be well-discipled if they are to walk rightly and be valuable instruments in the ministry of the Lord God.
Discuss
What can your fellowship do to improve focus on the most-important matters in discipleship?
Reflect
It is a strategy of the enemy to get believers arguing about the unimportant.
Share
When have you observed a fellowship dealing with a divisive person?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you “good works” for which He has prepared you through discipleship.
Action:
Today I will be intentional about the good works He has prepared and sent me to do.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Saturday (Titus 3:12-15)
Final Instructions and Greeting
3:12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
3:13 Make every effort to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; make sure they have what they need.
3:14 Here is another way that our people can learn to engage in good works to meet pressing needs and so not be unfruitful.
3:15 Everyone with me greets you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.
Prayer
Lord, You instruct us to take care of one-another rather than waste time unproductively. May I be alert to the needs of fellow believers and seize opportunities to assist them.
Summary & Commentary
Paul asked Titus to be a resource to other leaders and to come and visit him.
He instructed Titus to model and teach caring and support for fellow-believers
Paul explained that believers who invested time in the care and support of other believers would be less-likely to engage in “unfruitful” activities. [Earlier in the text of his letter to Titus Paul listed many of the “unfruitful” activities to be avoided.]
He concluded his letter with one request; to “Greet those who love us in the faith”, a special word for believers, and a blessing “Grace be with you all.”
Interaction
Consider
We are to care for fellow believers so that they are not without the resources necessary to continue their ministry.
Discuss
What can your fellowship do to make certain that no believer goes without necessities and those doing extra for the Lord also well-supported?
Reflect
When believers are not about the Lord’s work they tend to drift into the things of the world.
Share
When have you been part of meeting the needs of a fellow-believer or supported a special ministry?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where you have drifted into unfruitful activities.
Action:
Today I will purge the unfruitful activities from my life and rather than leave a vacuum I will fill that space with ministry His name.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –“Titus” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in April of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Philemon
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Section Introduction
The prior Section
Sunday (Philemon 1:1-3)
Salutation
1:1 From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer,
1:2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house.
1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Prayer
Lord, You see us in many roles; as Your children, saints, The Church, and here in Philemon as soldiers. May I see myself as You do, defined by You, called as I am made a useful instrument in Your great work.
Summary & Commentary
Paul wrote to Philemon while still imprisoned, and accompanied by Timothy.
He called Philemon a “colaborer”, which was high-praise given in parallel with Timothy.
Paul referenced Apphia “our sister” [apparently set apart for her role in some part of the ministry, rather than merely a sister in the faith, since he immediately thereafter referenced the corporate gathering of believers “the church”] and Archippus, “our fellow soldier” [presumably because he may have suffered imprisonment and other punishment for the faith].
He observed that the gathering of believers was in the home of Philemon, as was common for Christians at that time, and remains so in much of the modern world.
Paul concluded with a blessing common to most of his letters.
Interaction
Consider
Paul, like Jesus, was counter-cultural in his respect for the work of women in the fellowship.
Discuss
How might fellowships better teach the concept of “colaborers”?
Reflect
It was not uncommon, yet highly-esteemed, when one literally suffered for the faith.
Share
When have you been involved in a fellowship where leaders clearly sought the best-interest of one-another rather than competing?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone serving in a leadership role, official or unofficial, whom He would like to encourage and support.
Action:
Today I will give pray for the one whom the Lord God has “assigned” me. I will, as is appropriate, offer my assistance and support.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Monday (Philemon 1:4-5)
Thanks for Philemon’s Love and Faith
1:4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
1:5 because I hear of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
Prayer
Lord, You ask us to pray for one-another, including giving thanks for those who partner with us in Your service. May I be faithful in remembering my partners in ministry as I live my prayers of thanks to You.
Summary & Commentary
Paul began by role-modeling giving thanks to the Lord God in prayer.
He then taught, by example, Philemon to pray to the Lord God—giving thanks for those who partnered with him in the Lord's service.
Paul explained that despite his lengthy imprisonment he'd heard of Philemon and his faith the in the Lord Jesus.
He also testified to hearing that Philemon had given evidence of his genuine love for his fellow believers “saints”.
Interaction
Consider
The Lord God wants us to give thanks in prayer for those who serve Him with us so that we never lose sight of Who we serve and that we serve together—not separately.
Discuss
How might your fellowship better teach members to be more-intentional in praying for one-another?
Reflect
Philemon could pray for his fellow “saints” because he was aware of them and he loved them.
Share
When have you paused to pray for fellow believers?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a fellow believer whom He wants you to lift up in thankful prayer.
Action:
Today I will give thanks to the Lord God in prayer for the one whom He has made me especially aware. As is appropriate I will tell them so.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Tuesday (Philemon 1:6-7)
1:6 I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ.
1:7 I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Prayer
Lord, You not only saved us, You have a storehouse of blessings You wish to give to us. May my choices be obedient so Your blessings flow through me to others.
Summary & Commentary
Paul had received testimonies, both in word and deed, of the faith of Philemon.
He encouraged Philemon to continue to explore his faith as he would come to understand “... every blessing that belongs to you in Christ.”
Paul received “... great joy and encouragement” because the faith-fed love of Philemon, empowered by the Holy Spirit, had cause him to encourage “the hearts of the saints”.
Interaction
Consider
The quality of our personal testimony, both in word and deed, matters.
Discuss
How might your fellowship better teach the blessings that come from faith and faithfulness?
Reflect
Philemon did not encourage the saints as a result of resources or wisdom of the flesh but rather as a consequence of blessings that flowed to and through him to others.
Share
When have you observed a leader whose faith was strong and through whom others were blessed because the Lord God's blessings overflowed them?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a fellow believer with whom He wants you to share this text.
Action:
Today I will encourage a fellow believer to grow in faith as they better-understand the blessings the Lord God has for them so that He may pour those blessings through them into others.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Wednesday (Philemon 1:8-11)
Paul’s Request for Onesimus
1:8 So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper,
1:9 I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus—
1:10 I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus,
1:11 who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me.
Prayer
Lord, You hold all of the ultimate power in all of Your creation, yet You have chosen to delegate and to invite rather than command and control. May I respond from my freedom with the love-based obedience You so richly deserve.
Summary & Commentary
Paul reminded Philemon that he had the authority from the Lord God, through Christ, to make demands upon him.
He chose, as has the Lord, to appeal to him—based on love—to chose rightly.
Paul explained that he had mentored Onesimus to salvation and through discipleship and now held him in high-esteem.
He observed that the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus, prior to Paul's involvement, had been an unproductive one—but that had all changed.
Interaction
Consider
The role-model of Jesus and of Paul was to teach and demonstrate love-based leadership.
Discuss
How might your fellowship instill a stronger sense of love, rather than of obedience and/or ritual, into the membership—so that their service to others is both joy-filled and sacrificial?
Reflect
When people make decisions based on the love-perspective they have learned from the Lord God they mature and become positive role-models for others.
Share
When have you observed a leader who mentored a troubled person to maturity and value in the Lord's service?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone you may encourage and perhaps mentor to greater maturity in their walk with the Lord God.
Action:
Today I will prayerfully accept the challenge from the Holy Spirit. It may be a spouse, a friend, a son or daughter, a co-worker or someone within a ministry in which I serve. I will invest in prayer, teaching, and right modeling of love-driven service to others.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Thursday (Philemon 1:12-16)
1:12 I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you.
1:13 I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel.
1:14 However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.
1:15 For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally,
1:16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord.
Prayer
Lord, You often separate us from our familiar worldly circumstances so that You may get our attention and lead us toward You, because You desire our relationship eternally. May I never forget what You have done for me and never forget that when You work in my life Your ways are always-perfect whether I understand them at the time or not.
Summary & Commentary
Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon because he wanted Philemon to have full-freedom to choose his path.
While Paul had a strong fellowship with Onesimus, and found him valuable to ministry, he was willing to sacrifice his presence and service for the sake of leading Philemon through a teachable moment.
He speculated, rhetorically (for the sake of leading Philemon to discover the Lord's hand in things), that Onesimus had fled Philemon as a slave to Paul so that he might be spiritually-saved.
Paul led Philemon to recognize that Onesimus, as a fellow-believer, was far more valuable than an unsaved slave.
Interaction
Consider
Sometimes we have to allow those we mentor to make decisions freely, with full power to choose differently than we'd choose, within the bounds of legality.
Discuss
How would you adjust your practice of mentoring to lead and model rather than instruct and control?
Reflect
Paul modeled “meekness” as his was power (he had authority from the Lord God) under control (the control of the Lord) but withheld it for a better cause.
Share
When have you observed a mentor who used Paul's method?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an opportunity to apply Paul's model.
Action:
Today I will take the risk of trying Paul's model. I will pray about it and as-appropriate consult one who qualifies as a Biblical elder for counsel and prayer.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Friday (Philemon 1:17-21)
1:17 Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.
1:18 Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me.
1:19 I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe me your very self.
1:20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
1:21 Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do.
Prayer
Lord, I owe You my very self. May I repay You even more than the minimal obedience You ask of me.
Summary & Commentary
Paul continued his mentoring of Philemon through the teachable case of Onesimus.
He knew that Philemon held him in high-esteem so he asked him to view Onesimus in the same way.
Paul wanted to remove any financial considerations that might burden Philemon and cloud his judgment of Onesimus, so Paul offered to cover any expenses he may have incurred while in the service of Philemon prior to fleeing to Paul and coming to faith.
He reminded Philemon that was he (Paul) who had led him to faith and mentored him, so for all that was important Philemon owed Paul for his sacrifice on his behalf.
Paul asked Philemon to refresh his soul with beyond-expectation faith and love-driven choices.
Interaction
Consider
Every fellow believer is a brother or sister in-Christ.
Discuss
Would you be willing to pay the debts of someone whom you led to Christ, mentored, loved dearly as a brother or sister in-Christ—in order that they might be reconciled to another brother or sister in-Christ whom they had previously wronged?
Reflect
We all owe a debt of gratitude to the one who made themselves available to the Lord and became His instrument to lead us to faith and through discipleship.
Share
When have you appealed to a brother or sister to change their view of a new brother or sister in-Christ whom they had previously viewed badly as an unsaved person?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone who needs you to speak-up for them within the fellowship of believers.
Action:
Today I will come alongside a fellow believer who is either somewhat new in faith or is recovering from a poor choice or choices. I will invest in their discipleship and walk with them through the process of reconciliation, and hopefully, restoration with the person (or persons) whom they have previously offended.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Saturday (Philemon 1:22-25)
1:22 At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.
Concluding Greetings
1:23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.
1:24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too.
1:25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Prayer
Lord, You bless the prayers of others who pray for us, and you give us Your grace through Your Holy Spirit. May I be faithful in praying for others and in living-out the grace You have given me.
Summary & Commentary
Paul asked Philemon to pray for his freedom so that he might come to him.
He was sure enough that he asked Philemon to prepare a place for him to stay. (Philemon would have known that Paul's visit would likely be lengthy and would involve company and conflict.
Paul sent greetings from several who were with him, perhaps as assurance that he was not alone, and also as evidence that the Lord was still active in and through him.
His closing prayer was for the Holy Spirit to find a welcoming heart in Philemon such that he could be filled with the grace of Jesus.
Interaction
Consider
Prayers for fellow believers are answered by the Lord God.
Discuss
How might a prayer journal be helpful in building confidence that the Lord God answers prayers?
Reflect
If we welcome Him the Holy Spirit will bless us with grace.
Share
When have you observed answered prayer—raised by one believer for another—where the one praying made plans based on the expectation of answered prayer?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone for whom He wants you to pray.
Action:
Today I will pray without hesitation and in anticipation of the Lord God's perfect answer in His perfect time. I will ask at least one fellow believer to pray in-agreement.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated—http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –“Philemon”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in April of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
James
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Sunday (James 1:1-18)
Salutation
1:1 From James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings!
Joy in Trials
1:2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
1:4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.
1:5 But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.
1:6 But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind.
1:7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, 1:8 since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.
1:9 Now the believer of humble means should take pride in his high position.
1:10 But the rich person’s pride should be in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow.
1:11 For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.
1:12 Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him.
1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.
1:14 But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires.
1:15 Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.
1:16 Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters.
1:17 All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.
1:18 By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Prayer
Lord, Your wisdom is perfect, and You desire that we share in it. May I ask without doubt and trust Your guidance.
Summary & Commentary
The words of James 1:2 may have echoed in the minds as his readers as they recalled the report, from 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, of the suffering endured by the Apostle Paul:
“... in far more imprisonments,
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“... beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“Three times I was beaten with rods,
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“... once I was stoned,
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“... three times I was shipwrecked,
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“ a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
“Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches.
“consider it nothing but joy ...”
James reminded his readers to follow the example of Solomon, where wisdom is needed, ask the Holy Spirit for more.
James insisted that our requests of God be “without doubting” because “... one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed about by the wind ... that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is an double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.”
While God is not tempted we are. We must not let our good fortunes in this world cause us to imagine that we cannot be tempted. We must see tests as an opportunity to mature by resisting through the strength of the Holy Spirit within.
Be bold in the declaration of God:
“Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:24-33).
Look forward to an opportunity to testify to Jesus and your hope in Him:
“And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:14b-15)
Be careful that your suffering is due to your faithfulness, or at least not due to your sin:
“... and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:16)
Interaction
Consider
James’ teaching defined what was found in Paul’s writings in 2 Corinthians.
Discuss
What are some practical ways to be more-bold in the declaration of the Lord God?
Reflect
James insistence was that our requests of the Lord God be “without doubting” because “... one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed about by the wind ... a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.”
Share
What is an example from your experience of following Solomon; when wisdom was needed and you asked the Holy Spirit for more? Did He give it only to you directly or did He provide one or more others to walk with you in discerning the guidance of His wisdom?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you have been doubting the Lord God, asking Him to provide what you need to walk a more mature walk and/or to have the wisdom that you need, but not really trusting and therefore not allowing Him to do so.
Action:
Today I am choosing to confess my double-mindedness to a fellow believer and I will ask them to pray with me to break free of that place of stuckness.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Monday (James 1:19-27)
Living Out the Message
1:19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.
1:20 For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.
1:21 So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.
1:22 But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.
1:23 For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror.
1:24 For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was.
1:25 But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out – he will be blessed in what he does.
1:26 If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.
1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Prayer
Lord, You have given us so much and You ask that we honor Your gifts in the way that we live. May I become a more valuable instrument of your saving grace and discipling love as I press-away the things of the world and replace them with a heart inclined toward You.
Summary & Commentary
“By His sovereign plan ...”
{Note: God is in control.]
“... he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”
[Note: The Lord God provides for a new birth, in Christ, cleansed us of our sins. When He views us through Jesus the Christ we are returned to pre-Fall purity and post-Cross righteousness.]
“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.”
[Note: Paul taught us to “pray without ceasing” because in so doing we have to slow down before we react to circumstances and take the time to consult the Lord God through His indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus warned that the tongue is tough to control. Jesus also taught that there is “righteous anger” but that one must not “sin in their anger”.]
“... put away all filth and evil excess”
[Note: We cannot do this of our own strength but only through the Holy Spirit.
“... humbly welcome the message planted within you.”
[Note: The Bible teaches that the Lord God will “write His message on the heart” of the faithful.]
“... be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it ... be blessed”
[Note: “The Word of God does not return void”, without impact, when it is received by a willing heart.]
“If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.
[Note: We each make choices to obey or to rebel, the one who does not choose to allow the Holy Spirit to control their tongue, has made a choice to rebel. The Lord God’s consistent message is that He blesses obedience and not disobedience.]
“Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this:”
[Note: We live before an audience of only one being Who really matters, that is the Lord God alone; we must focus on pleasing Him above all others.]
“... to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune”
[Note: “A father to the fatherless, a husband to the widow.]
“... to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
[Note: If we recite the Lord’s Prayer with intentional meaning then we cannot say “Lead us not into testing or temptation” if we deliberately remain in situations where we know that we are vulnerable.]
Interaction
Consider
Paul taught us to “pray without ceasing” because in so doing we have to slow down before we react to circumstances and consult God through His indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus warned that the tongue is tough to control. Jesus also taught that there is “righteous anger” but that one must not “sin in their anger”.
Discuss
What are some practical ways to “... put away all filth and evil excess” and “... to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune”?
Reflect
One cannot “... keep oneself unstained by the world if one deliberately remains in situations where one knows they are vulnerable.
Share
When have you observed an example from your life “... humbly welcome the message planted within you.”? How has the Lord God’s message brought comfort and wisdom and you have shared that with others - giving Him all of the glory?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where you fail to “pray without ceasing”
Action:
Today I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me to slow down before I react to circumstances and consult Him. I agree to partner with the Holy Spirit for wisdom and power, and with a fellow believer for accountability, as I walk through the process of transformation in my life.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Tuesday (James 2:1-13)
Prejudice and the Law of Love
2:1 My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.
2:2 For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes,
2:3 do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”?
2:4 If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?
2:5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
2:6 But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts? 2:7 Do they not blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to?
2:8 But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
2:9 But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators.
2:10 For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
2:11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law.
2:12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom.
2:13 For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.
Prayer
Lord, You patiently-loved and sacrificially-saved us when were could bring to You nothing of value. May I remember that I am nothing but what the Lord God pours through me into others.
Summary & Commentary
Paul clearly identifies his audience as those who “possess faith in our Lord Jesus Christ”; This is a message for believers.
Then he challenges them (us) to consider how they (we) treat a person of unknown faith, when the person enters our place of worship, looking only at their appearance “if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes”.
He then gets more specific “do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”?”
And finally he questions their heart-condition: “If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?”
In 1 Timothy 5:21 the apostle Paul challenges Timothy, and every leader “Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind.”
A leader must never be chosen based on his worldly success but only for his spiritual maturity and the observed calling and gifting of the Holy Spirit for ministry.
A leader must never make decisions about care-giving, fellowship, outreach, or participation based on worldly priorities but only the priorities modeled by Jesus and taught in the Word of God.
Jesus and Paul, and here James, address the frequent divide between the rich and the poor, a divide that far too often includes one of shallow versus true faith.
[Note: Remember the Story of the Rich Man from Mark 10:17-31]
Have we not all observed that the distractions of money, the pursuit of money, and the way that money may insulate us from many of the challenges of life - sometimes leads us also to a sense that we don’t need the Lord God?
It can be a subtle drift ... it is not as though we suddenly say “OK, I am comfortable with my income-to-debt ratio, so Hey God - you can take a break - I’ll handle it from here.”
It happens in small increments, we start skipping our times of personal Bible study and the extra activities at church (the gathering of believers) - unless, of course, we need to be there to network there for our business.
Then we start making excuses for missing our small group study. After that we miss more and more Sunday morning times of worship, and eventually we have all-but placed God and His people into a picture frame on the wall next to our certificate of club membership and our 3 year old award for public service.
Jesus, God in human flesh, chose to arrive at Christmas - born to a poor family. He said “Foxes have dens, and the birds in the sky 1 have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” And He died with nothing of the world in His possession.
While Jesus dined with poor and rich alike, healed poor and rich alike, and welcomed poor and rich alike - one cannot help but observe that He appeared to invest most of His time and energy among the poor and what we’d call the middle-class today - finding little welcome and less response among the rich.
“Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?”
James is not saying that God prefers the poor over the rich, he has said elsewhere that He “Is no respecter of persons”, meaning that one’s standing in the opinion of man has no bearing on God’s opinion of you - God seeks a heart-relationship with anyone, rich or poor.
What James is saying is that the rich in his day were obsessed with maintaining their sinful lifestyles and the teaching of Christ made them uncomfortable.
James reminds his readers that, because of their fear of the teaching of Jesus that God loves the poor and the rich equally, they (the rich) “blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to”.
I have observed that working men are unlikely to be surprised by, or to disagree with, the Biblical teaching that people are not naturally good - but are instead naturally drawn toward selfishness and sin.
I have also observed that the rich, or those otherwise isolated from the daily challenges of the working world, tend to think of people as essentially good.
It is generally the case that the rich are less likely to sense a need for God because they are more insulated from the daily struggle for food and clothing and shelter - and the rich tend to have the discretionary time to reflect upon alternative human explanations of the origins and value of man.
We honor those in need with our love and resources because they are loved by God, they are less likely to disrespect God, and because Jesus said so!
“2:8 But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 2:9 But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators. 2:10 For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 2:11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law. 2:12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom. 2:13 For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Jesus commanded that His followers “love your neighbor as yourself” then James explains that doing so will “fulfill the royal law” - and therefore “you are doing well” - we need to understand that there is a huge difference between trying to keep the letter of the Law and an act from the heart - in cooperation with the Holy Spirit.
James makes reference to the Law so we need to understand the New Testament teaching as to the purpose of the Law - it is to convict us of our distance from God.
It is important to note that the Law permits no failure - one must meet it perfectly in every detail or fail completely “For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law.”
Therefore James reminds his readers “But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators.” He also reminds us that if we are without mercy, a failure to reflect the heart of God, we have no cause to expect God to treat us with mercy.
I believe that it was Abraham Lincoln who wrote “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” Pointless-prejudice is just plain dumb! We all have “prejudices”, or perhaps it is safer to use the term “preferences”, but prejudice based on ignorance is destructive to communities and to our spiritual well-being. Racial prejudice is one of the dumbest of all - skin color tells one nothing about the heart or the mind.
James concludes “Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom. For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.”
The new “Law” of Jesus, for those who are saved, is grounded in mercy and not performance.
The person whom a healthy person treats with the greatest patience and respect, providing the most resources and time to - is oneself. Jesus wants us to share the same consideration and “slack” we give ourselves with others.
He is always most concerned with the condition of our hearts, endeavoring to transform our imperfect and selfish hearts into hearts overflowing with God’s love.
In our imperfection (without Jesus the Christ) we are imperfect and ugly in the eyes of the Lord God, so much so that were we to be in His presence, His perfection would destroy us. Yet He came to us and provided a way back for us, taking our ugliness upon Himself, so that our relationship with Him might be restored.
How little He asks that we show the same heart of mercy toward others.
Interaction
Consider
The Lord God has tolerated humankind, and responded to with mercy, from shortly after the time of His creation - the Fall in the Garden of Eden- and throughout history until now so that we might be restored to right-relationship with Him for eternity. How do the distractions of money, the pursuit of money, and the way that money may insulate us from many of the challenges of life, lead us to a false sense that we don’t need God?
Discuss
What are some practical ways that we might make the practice of mercy an integral and instinctive part of our lives? Also, some practical ways that we may avoid the subtle drift, the small increments, as we start skipping our times of personal Bible study and the extra activities at church (the gathering of believers)? Unless, of course, we need to be there to network for our business.
Reflect
Working men and women are unlikely to be surprised by, or to disagree with, the Biblical teaching that people are not naturally good - but are instead naturally drawn toward selfishness and sin. Have you observed that the rich, or those otherwise isolated from the daily challenges of the working world, tend to think of people as essentially good?
Share
What is an example of mercy received by you, despite the circumstances of life that must have been challenging the person or persons to not be merciful, but who chose to be merciful? Share also an example of a fellowship or other gathering (work, school, family, club, etc.) that was challenged by the unexpected arrival of someone who didn’t fit the social norm. How was it handled and what was the outcome? If not handled well, or the outcome was not good, how might it have been handled differently in light of James’ teaching?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a person (at fellowship, school, work, or elsewhere) whom you have judged prejudicially (without sufficient God-filtered information), even partly, based only on exterior appearance or a very shallow interaction.
Action:
Today I am choosing to pray for the one whom I have wronged, even if only in my mind and heart, and I will seek a Holy Spirit-guided opportunity to get to know them better.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Wednesday (James 2:14-26)
Faith and Works Together
2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him?
2:15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, 2:16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it?
2:17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.
2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works.
2:19 You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.
2:20 But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless?
2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
2:22 You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works.
2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
2:24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
2:25 And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way?
2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Prayer
Lord, You provided salvation through Jesus the Christ and You sent Your Holy Spirit to bind our salvation and to produce fruit through us. May my works be the fruit of the Holy Spirit and may it be to the glory and purpose of the Lord God.
Summary & Commentary
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works?”
[Note: James revisits a question addressed by Paul from a different perspective, Paul reflected that although it would be better if he were present with the Lord, God had chosen to keep him here on earth so he had to presume that it was not without purpose, therefore he would give himself completely to God’s service.]
“Can this kind of faith save him.”
[Note: James is linking works (the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit) to a genuine saving faith. The absence of works means the absence of the Holy Spirit - thus the absence of a saving faith. He is not teaching works-righteousness for salvation, but rather that fruit/works is an inevitable product of salvation without which salvation is incomplete.]
James goes on to describe a right-application where one does not merely be verbally encouraging to a brother or sister in need but to actually make an effort to practically meet those needs.
“You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that -- and tremble with fear.”
[Note: In the specific local textual context one may take this to refer to the Lord God’s salvation being integrated with the obedient works of those to whom He grants salvation; however, one may also take it as a reference to the Trinity - since the Father told Abraham that his “... belief would be accounted to him as faith”, the Son provided our way to salvation, and the Holy Spirit is the “first down payment” on our salvation and is the One Who prompts us to live-out the fruits (works) of His indwelling presence.]
James recounted the story of Abraham and Issac and the altar to make the point that Abraham’s genuine belief was demonstrated through his obedient actions, he also cited Rahab, concluding “... a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
“For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
[Note: James reinforced the Biblical teaching that man is uniquely gifted by God with a spirit which makes a man or woman truly human and apart from all other life forms.
Interaction
Consider
The common teaching of Paul and James it would be better if we were present with the Lord God; however, He has chosen to keep us here on earth so we must presume that is was not without purpose, therefore we must give ourselves completely to His service.
Discuss
What are some practical ways to not merely be verbally-encouraging to a brother or sister in need but to actually make an effort to practically meet their needs?
Reflect
The repeated emphasis of the Biblical text that our first priority must always be with brothers and sisters in-faith, rather than the unsaved, should be reflected in our personal and fellowship priorities. (How appealing can it be if we neglect “family” in favor of strangers? Who would want to become “family” under those circumstances?)
Share
What is a practical example where you caught yourself speaking words of encouragement to a struggling brother and sister but failed to recognize that the Lord God had provided sufficient excess so that you could actually meet their immediate practical need? How did you respond to His prompting and what was the result?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the times in your life when you allow the challenges of daily living, or challenges from your past (which you should long-ago have neutralized through forgiveness, prayer, and as-necessary spiritual warfare), to cause you to question the Lord God’s purpose in your life.
Action:
Today I will prayerfully review what the Holy Spirit has made known to me and I will re-commit myself to His service and put aside any doubts as to why He has chosen to keep me here – no matter my worldly circumstances.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Thursday (James 3:1-18)
The Power of the Tongue
3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly.
3:2 For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well.
3:3 And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies.
3:4 Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs.
3:5 So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze.
3:6 And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence – and is set on fire by hell.
3:7 For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind.
3:8 But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
3:9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image.
3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters.
3:11 A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it?
3:12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water.
True Wisdom
3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.
3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.
3:15 Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic.
3:16 For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.
3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.
3:18 And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.
Prayer
Lord, You have warned that those who teach through their lives and their words are accountable the integrity of both, yet one who teaches as an authority is held to a higher standard of accuracy. May I prayerfully-consider every word as spoken before You and as honoring of the fruits of the Spirit given by You.
Summary & Commentary
“Not many of you should become teachers ...”
[Note: One who accepts any role of authority in the transmission of the Lord God’s Word to those who will trust them must be aware that He defends His Word. Those who sit under ones teaching have a right to presume accountability and sound “scholarship” from their teacher - for they are expected to submit to that authority - and though they be “good Bereans” - checking the Word - they are vulnerable to subtle deception - via carelessness or intentional deceit. The Lord takes a dim view of those who mistreat His “children”!]
James notes that “... we all stumble in many ways” and that “... no human being can subdue the tongue”.
[Note: This is why James warns against becoming teachers because the care necessary to minimize error is extraordinary.]
James requires that those who claim to be “... wise and understanding” present evidence of “... good conduct” via “... good works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.”
James then contrasts false claims of wisdom, “... earthy, natural, demonic” with “wisdom from above”.
False:
“... bitter jealousy”
“...selfishness in your hearts”
“... disorder and every evil practice”
Genuine:
“... first pure”
“... peaceable”
“... gentle”
“... accommodating”
“... full of mercy”
“... full of ... good fruit”
“... impartial”
“... not hypocritical”
“And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.”
Interaction
Consider
The desire of the Lord God is that all who teach be committed to the integrity of the Word of God, thus to protect His “sheep” from the harm of careless and/or false beliefs.
Discuss
How might we better control the incredible power of the tongue to both condemn and praise other believers and to disrespect and to praise the Lord God?
Reflect
In the contrasting lists of the fruits of false and genuine sources of wisdom; do you find any in your life which require attention to relocate from false to genuine?
Share
When have you observed an example of the incredible power of the tongue to both condemn and praise other believers and to disrespect and to praise the Lord God?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to identify at least one place in your life where you have been careless as a teacher, careless in your words, and/or careless as to the source of wisdom you have used.
Action:
Today I agree to partner with the Holy Spirit, with the prayerful accountability of a fellow believer, to get things right with the Lord God.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Friday (James 4)
Passions and Pride
4:1 Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you?
4:2 You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask;
4:3 you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you can spend it on your passions.
4:4 Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy.
4:5 Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, “The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning”?
4:6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.”
4:7 So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.
4:8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded.
4:9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair.
4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.
4:11 Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. He who speaks against a fellow believer or judges a fellow believer speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but its judge.
4:12 But there is only one who is lawgiver and judge – the one who is able to save and destroy. On the other hand, who are you to judge your neighbor?
4:13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”
4:14 You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes.
4:15 You ought to say instead, “If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that.”
4:16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
4:17 So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin.
Prayer
Lord, You provide the power and wisdom we need. May I mature enough to more-consistently submit to my Lord God and to resist the devil.
Summary & Commentary
4:1 Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you?
James challenged his readers to look to the emotional-spiritual conflict between the “old man” (the persistent flesh with which we endure which still in the world), and the “new man” who is already seen through Christ as clothed in white and in a perfect Heaven - now trying to push away the sin of the world which seeks to stain him/her.
[Note: The latter is a paraphrase from Dr. Neil Anderson of Freedom in Christ ministries.]
4:2 You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask; 4:3 you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you can spend it on your passions.
As with King David in the Bathsheba tragedy, his son Solomon in his Ecclesiastes lament, and other Biblical characters they missed-out on blessings because of their disobedience.
4:4 Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy. 4:5 Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, “The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning”? 4:6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.”
James challenges his readers to make a choice, there is no middle ground, choose God or man, the world or the Kingdom.
4:7 So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.
James returned to spiritual warfare. Whether we choose to acknowledge it there is a spiritual war raging all around us and we are involved - we ignore it to our peril - we remain defenseless unless we assert our legitimate spiritual authority as children of God.
4:8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded. 4:9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair. 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.
God wants us to choose to partner with Him and He longs to bless us for ministry. This means that we will have to grieve and mourn and weep for the loss of filling our fleshy passions. It also means that our temporary laughter and happiness due to the filling of our fleshy passions will be gone. [Note” The term “joy” may be a confusing choice here given the tendency for it to refer to things uniquely-Heavenly elsewhere.]
4:11 Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. He who speaks against a fellow believer or judges a fellow believer speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but its judge. 4:12 But there is only one who is lawgiver and judge – the one who is able to save and destroy. On the other hand, who are you to judge your neighbor?
The purpose of the Law was to convict people of their sin, to convince them of their inability to earn salvation through works, and to drive them to humility before Christ. God alone may know and judge the heart (spiritual essence) of a person and to thus know the integrity of their faith-for-salvation.
4:13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” 4:14 You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes. 4:15 You ought to say instead, “If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that.”
In the parable of the man who tore down his silos to build larger ones Jesus declared that he may die in the night and have no heirs and no eternal hope - James reflects upon the same principle - we must attend to the priorities of God and live in the moment without presuming upon the future. Serve God right now!
4:16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 4:17 So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin.
Interaction
Consider
The Lord God wants us to make a choice, there is no middle ground, choose God or man, the world or the Kingdom.
Discuss
What are some practical ways to recognize the spiritual war raging all around us and how me may assert our legitimate spiritual authority as children of our Lord God?
Reflect
The principle is that we must attend to the priorities of the Lord God and live in the moment without presuming upon the future. Serve the Lord right now!
Share
When have you experienced an example of the battle in your life between the temptations of the “old man” and the appeal to righteous living of the “new man”? [Note: If you are not experiencing this “battle” then you may need to revisit your salvation - unless you are claiming a perfect righteousness prior to Heaven!]
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to examine your relationship with the Lord God and reveal to you at least one area where the Lord God is prompting you to mature and to partner with the Holy Spirit to intentionally move toward greater maturity.
Action:
Today I will surrender to the answer to the questions: Am I serving Him right now or am I still procrastinating in favor of worldly priorities? Am I winning the battle for the “new man” or am I too-often surrendering to the temptations of the “old man”? Do I understand spiritual warfare or do I need to find some Biblically-trustworthy discipleship in that area? Do I know what I should do in the area of spiritual warfare but am hesitating like David’s brothers in the face of a Goliath-like giant of a challenge from the enemy in my life?
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Saturday (James 5)
Warning to the Rich
5:1 Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you.
5:2 Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten.
5:3 Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure!
5:4 Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
5:5 You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
5:6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person, although he does not resist you.
Patience in Suffering
5:7 So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains.
5:8 You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s return is near.
5:9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be judged. See, the judge stands before the gates!
5:10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name.
5:11 Think of how we regard as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and you have seen the Lord’s purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
5:12 And above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath. But let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no, so that you may not fall into judgment.
Prayer for the Sick
5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praises.
5:14 Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
5:15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up – and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
5:16 So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.
5:17 Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and there was no rain on the land for three years and six months!
5:18 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land sprouted with a harvest.
5:19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back,
5:20 he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from his wandering path will save that person’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Prayer
Lord, You ask us to pray for ourselves and for others, both in need and in thankful praise. May I pray with a right-heart so that my prayers will be unencumbered by sinful desires or carelessness.
Summary & Commentary
James issued a prophesy to the “rich” whom he chastised for hoarding the last days. He told them that all that they have hoarded was ill-gotten and worthless.
He noted that their ill-gotten gains came from withholding what was due their workers and that the Lord God had heard their cries. They had also mistreated righteous people - thus bringing the Lord’s condemnation upon themselves.
[Note: Nowhere in the Bible does the Lord God condemn success or wealth, He only condemns the unjust treatment of workers, the neglect of the welfare of brothers and sisters in Christ when resources would allow one to assist them, and the obsession with wealth that brings arrogance, pride, and selfishness - drawing one away from the Lord and into the values of the world.]
James encouraged the believers to “... be patient and strengthen your hearts”, to avoid grumbling “... against one another” as the Lord God was watching. He encouraged them to look to the prophets for examples of how one might endure with righteousness.
He reminded them of the prohibition against “swearing” on someone or something in order to assert their integrity and to instead be known as people whose “Yes be yes and their No be no.” as a consistent testimony to their integrity.
James then presented a series of instructions for a solid prayer life:
“Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray.”
[Note: The first responsibility for prayer is upon the one who is suffering. Others pray in- agreement with the one in need.]
“Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praises.”
[Note: If we pray when we have needs we should also celebrate when the Lord blesses us.]
“Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith of the one who is sick will raise him up - and even if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
[Note: James emphasizes “... the prayer of faith”, returning to the admonition that we not be double-minded. Also, note James calls for the spiritual leaders of the fellowship to pray in agreement.]
“So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.”
[Note: James is reinforcing the teaching that we need to be accountable to one-another. When we come-clean within the fellowship we keep things transparent and healthy; part of the healing is a result of the Lord God’s direct intervention and part is through the relationships that are strengthened as well as the enriching experience of shared-concern raised in prayer. He is also noting the power of being righteous, in contrast to a double-minded person, when one comes before the Lord in prayer. This is not about certain people in a fellowship being “righteous” and therefore having “magical” prayer-power but that all who pray do so with respect for the One to whom they pray.]
James used Elijah as an example, noting that he was as human as anyone, but that his righteous prayer led to the Lord God stopping and then restarting the rains.
He concluded with a directive that we care for one another by “... turning back” a brother or sister who has drifted away “... from the truth”.
[Note: We are our “brother’s keeper”. We are to watch over others and allow, even encourage, them to watch over us. We no more want to be deceived into drifting away from the truth than we want to see them do so. When we are transparent and mutually-accountable we are stronger.]
Interaction
Consider
James’ exhortation that our “yes be yes and our no be no” was so that our integrity is etched into all that we think, say, and do - leading others to trust us and to want to know about the One Who empowers our integrity.
Discuss
Have you experienced or observed James’ teaching “... be patient and strengthen your hearts”, avoid grumbling “... against one another” as God is watching, and his encouragement for them to look to the prophets for examples of how one might endure with righteousness lived-out?
Reflect
The Lord God’s condemnation of the unjust treatment of workers, the neglect of the welfare of brothers and sisters in Christ when resources would allow one to assist them, and the obsession with wealth that brings arrogance, pride, and selfishness - draws one away from Him and into the values of the world.
Share
When have you observed an example of the practical implementation of James’ series of instructions for a solid prayer life. How did the Lord God answer such prayers?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to compare and contrast your prayer life with James’ instructions.
Action:
Today I am committing to step-up when I fall short and I agree to partner with the Holy Spirit, and at least one fellow believer, to intentionally transform my prayer life.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – “James” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in April of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
1 and 2 Peter
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Sunday (1 Peter 1:1-2:3)
Salutation
1:1 From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those temporarily residing abroad (in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia) who are chosen
1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by being set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for sprinkling with Jesus Christ’s blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure!
New Birth to Joy and Holiness
1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1:4 that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you,
1:5 who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1:6 This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials.
1:7 Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away – and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1:8 You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
1:9 because you are attaining the goal of your faith – the salvation of your souls.
1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who predicted the grace that would come to you searched and investigated carefully.
1:11 They probed into what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and his subsequent glory.
1:12 They were shown that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things now announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things angels long to catch a glimpse of.
1:13 Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1:14 Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance,
1:15 but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct,
1:16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.”
1:17 And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence.
1:18 You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed – not by perishable things like silver or gold,
1:19 but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ.
1:20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake.
1:21 Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
1:22 You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart.
1:23 You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.
1:24 For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off,
1:25 but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.
2:1 So get rid of all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
2:2 And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,
2:3 if you have experienced the Lord’s kindness.
Prayer
Lord, You made Heaven possible for us through the holiness of the One Who died and rose and ascended for us, and Who will return for us. May I seek-after the holiness that He modeled so as to honor His great sacrifice and wonderful gift.
Summary & Commentary
Peter began by addressing the immediate intended recipients as “.... those temporarily residing abroad (in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia)”. as well as noting that his audience is believers. He also included a benediction “May grace and peace be yours in full measure!”
1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1:4 that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, 1:5 who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
[Note: Peter reaffirmed the assurance of our salvation. Once truly saved one is eternally saved.]
1:6a This brings you great joy,
[Note: This is not the same thing as “happiness” which depends upon momentary earthly circumstances but is a more soul-level spiritually-discerned joy, certain of our salvation to an eternity in perfection with God’s family.]
1:6b ... although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. 1:7 Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away – and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
[Note: The Lord God, through Peter, again used an illustration which would be familiar, readily comprehended, and powerful among his audience.]
1:8 You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 1:9 because you are attaining the goal of your faith – the salvation of your souls.
[Note: Faith is ultimately a soul-level trust in the unseen, perhaps even the un-seeable; while some “believed” as a result of meeting Jesus and observing His miracles, others did not, the difference occurred at a soul-level rather than merely in their emotions and intellects. Peter also affirmed the singularity of the relationship between faith and salvation.]
1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who predicted the grace that would come to you searched and investigated carefully. 1:11 They probed into what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and his subsequent glory. 1:12 They were shown that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things now announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things angels long to catch a glimpse of.
[Note: We are to recognize the Lord God’s consistent message and His reliability; He said through His prophets that Jesus the Christ - The Messiah - would come and He made it so.]
1:13 Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
[Note: This is not about being free of alcohol or other toxic substances, though it surely includes that, but instead refers to clear thinking and to an actively-reflective mind-set in pursuit of truth - or rephrased - poised to recognize and to accept it. It also is intended to ward-off the efforts of the Judaisers to re-impose legalism and works.]
1:14 Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, 1:15 but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, 1:16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.” 1:17 And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence.
[Note: Peter exhorted his readers to step-up to their new identity in-Christ. He also reminded them that they have a new “home address” in Heaven and they are now only visitors here - transforming their perspective.]
1:18a You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors
[Note: Peter recollected Ecclesiastes and other NT teachings re. the futility of a life of works and a life in the world.]
1:18 but you were ransomed – not by perishable things like silver or gold, 1:19 but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ. 1:20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake. 1:21 Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
[Note: Peter re-affirmed the deity of Christ as a member of the eternal Trinity, that He “... was manifested in these last times” - Jesus came at CHRISTmas to fulfill His promise to provide a pathway to redemption, and that He would suffer-die-be resurrected in the Easter season, and therefore “... your faith and hope in God” is legitimate.]
1:22 You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart. 1:23 You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.
[Note: The “soul” of a human is guaranteed purification at the gates of Heaven; however, one is expected to engage the process of purification while on earth. Peter re-affirmed our “born-again” status and the assurance of our salvation.]
1:24 For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off,
[Note: Peter reminded his readers of the temporary nature of our earthly existence.]
1:25 but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.
2:1 So get rid of all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2:2 And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation, 2:3 if you have experienced the Lord’s kindness.
[Note: “... if you have experienced the Lord’s kindness” refers to the efforts of God through believers and other interventions in your life to present the gospel and to issue an invitation to choose salvation. It is, according to the NET translator’s notes, in part quoting Psalms 34:8 which paints a word picture of God as like tasty food to the soul. Peter revisited Paul’s exhortation for believers to intentionally pursue maturity.]
Interaction
Consider
Peter's exhortation was that we step-up to our identity in-Christ and that since we have a new "home address" in Heaven and are now only visitors here - our perspective must be transformed.
Discuss
What are some practical ways to engage the process of purification while on earth?
Reflect
Peter's rephrased the essentials of the Gospel message, with the reminder that because of Who Jesus is we therefore are who we are due to our intimate relationship with Him, thus we have cause to be confident.
Share
What is an example from your experience of a modern illustration, similar to the purification of gold in the fire, which would accurately illustrate the soul-purifying value of worldly troubles rightly-handled by a Biblical-Christian?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one area of your life where He has been prompting you to take a step toward greater soul-purity.
Action:
Today I am choosing to partner with the Holy Spirit as He leads me toward greater-holiness. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement and to also serve as my encourager and accountability partner.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Monday (1 Peter 2:4-25)
A Living Stone, a Chosen People
2:4 So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and priceless in God’s sight,
2:5 you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
2:6 For it says in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame.”
2:7 So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,
2:8 and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
2:10 You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.
2:11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,
2:12 and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.
Submission to Authorities
2:13 Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme
2:14 or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good.
2:15 For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.
2:16 Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves.
2:17 Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.
2:18 Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse.
2:19 For this finds God’s favor, if because of conscience toward God someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly.
2:20 For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.
2:21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.
2:22 He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth.
2:23 When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly.
2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed.
2:25 For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
Prayer
Lord, You sacrificed Yourself through Jesus to redeem Your creation, and Your expectation is that we will live with our eyes on You rather than the world. May I continue to surrender more and more of myself so that You may pour Yourself out through me.
Summary & Commentary
"2:4 So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and priceless in God’s sight, "
This is a quote from Psa 118:22 "The stone which the builders discarded has become the cornerstone." and is an echo of Acts 4:11 "This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone."
"2:5 you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
[Note: Peter drew a parallel between the role of Jesus as the "cornerstone" of His eternal "spiritual house", made up of believers, and every believer who now becomes a part of the complete "spiritual house".]
"2:6 For it says in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame.” " A quote from Isaiah 28:16.
[Note: Peter drew the reader's attention to the sovereign salvation power of Christ, choosing the term "never" when qualifying "be put to shame".]
"2:7 So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, 2:8 and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do."
[Note: Peter brought his readers back to the purpose of the OT Law, it challenged and convicted those who were bent upon rebellion, and now Jesus becomes the fulfillment of the law and his offer of salvation becomes the new stumbling block for the rebellious."]
"2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 2:10 You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy."
[Note: This fascinating text really should be read beginning at 2:10a "You once were not a people ...", meaning that the new covenant to the new "Church which is the body of believers is a unique family or "people". When one then reads the words Peter applied to them, words that had previously been reserved for the Hebrew nation/the Jewish people. one discovers that Peter was redefining from the OT meanings to new NT meanings when using these terms.]
"2:11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul, 2:12 and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears."
[Note: We need to defend ourselves against the sin of the world since we are now eternal residents of Heaven and mere "foreigners and exiles" here. The testimony of our daily walk is considered worthy of special attention by Peter as the truth of Jesus is being judged by its impact upon us.]
"2:13 Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme 2:14 or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good. 2:15 For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good."
[Note: Continuing his theme of a positive witness Peter exhorted believers to be good citizens. It is, however, never acceptable for a believer to condone, encourage, facilitate, or participate in a sin against the Lord God for the sake of being "subject to every human institution". God's calling is always superior to any other.]
"2:16 Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves."
[Note: Believers are freed from slavery to sin - as defined by the law - and to the valueless priorities of the world. As we enjoy the freedom of grace we must remember that we owe honor in all that we do to our self-selected Master, the Lord God.]
"2:17 Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king."
[Note: Peter reaffirmed the teaching of Christ that we "Honor all people", not in the secular sense of fake or ritual honor but in treating them with respect, regardless of worldly standing. He also reaffirmed the importance of believers loving one another. Peter reiterated the Lord God's standing as the first and most important authority. And finally he affirmed the consistent teaching that believers, like all humans, need a government system to maintain civilization - so without sinning against God we must "honor the king" - giving respect to authority which God has permitted to exist.]
"2:18 Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse. 2:19 For this finds God’s favor, if because of conscience toward God someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly. 2:20 For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God."
[Note: This is another of the sections of text which need to be read out of order to best be understood. The key is that if a “slave” was mistreated it must be because of their faithfulness to the Lord God and not because of their laziness or rebellion.]
"2:21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps. 2:22 He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth. 2:23 When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly. 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed."
[Note: Peter continued on his theme, that we are to live honorably in the world and when abused for our faith to continue to live honorably, not reacting as the world would react, and not selling-out our faith for comfort.]
"2:25 For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls." A quote from Isaiah 53:6
[Note: This referred to all people, those who were astray and thus condemned by the law, then as believers returning to the only One Who could keep them safe - or more precisely their souls safe - for eternity.]
Interaction
Consider
The emphasis that Peter placed on the rebellious as equally offended/convicted by the requirements of the law and now of Jesus. Choosing sin in rebellion against the Lordship of Christ is the same as choosing sin in rebellion against the OT law.
Discuss
What are some practical ways to that we may be a positive witness for Christ as good citizens yet not dishonor or disobey Christ by condoning, encouraging, facilitating, or participating in a sin against God for the sake of being "subject to every human institution"?
Reflect
The probability is that the more we live openly as Christians, even when acting honorably, we will come under attack; therefore, we need to be prepared to bear-up.
Share
What is an example from your life when you have chosen to "Honor all people", not in the secular sense of fake or ritual honor but in treating them with respect, regardless of worldly standing?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your walk where you have misunderstood your obligations to be a good witness to Him, perhaps by failing to honor certain people, by failing to love the family of believers, or by failing to honor the non-sinful expectations of a legitimate authority.
Action:
Today I will acknowledge my error and will ask a fellow believer to be my accountability and prayer-partner as I mature toward a more-right standing with the teaching of the Word of the Lord God.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Tuesday (1 Peter 3)
Wives and Husbands
3:1 In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then, even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live, 3:2 when they see your pure and reverent conduct.
3:3 Let your beauty not be external – the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes – 3:4 but the inner person of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
3:5 For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands, 3:6 like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so.
3:7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.
Suffering for Doing Good
3:8 Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble.
3:9 Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.
3:10 For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.
3:11 And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.
3:13 For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good?
3:14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken.
3:15 But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.
3:16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.
3:17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.
3:18 Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit.
3:19 In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison,
3:20 after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water.
3:21 And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you – not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
3:22 who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.
Prayer
Lord, You ask that we be ready to tell our story of Your rescue of us, and to keep “a good conscience”. May I avoid that which may compromise Your story in my life and seek the fruits of the Holy Spirit so that Your presence in me will be appealing.
Summary & Commentary
"3:1 In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then, even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live, 3:2 when they see your pure and reverent conduct."
[Note: Peter did not say that the believing wife is to engage in sinful conduct, he is clear that hers must be "pure and reverent conduct", the only one in the relationship who may "disobedient" in his instruction is the husband – one who needs to be "won over to the Word." It is worth prayerful-contemplation for perspective that the Word teaches that a believer is not to spend a great deal of time among unbelievers as they will be badly-influenced, and also that a spouse is not to force their unbelieving spouse to remain if they choose to leave.]
"3:3 Let your beauty not be external – the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes – 3:4 but the inner person of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight."
[Note: Peter was not forbidding "... the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes", he was teaching that believing women should not imagine external appearance to be their true beauty.]
"3:5 For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands, 3:6 like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so."
[Note: It was obvious in the OT that the wives of Abraham and Isaac were beautiful as they were the object of the affections of kings in lands through which they traveled such that they were kidnapped. While this is not definitive as to their hair styles, jewelry, or fashion, such have always been part of the initial attraction to men (and the OT-context was often an attraction from a distance, not the result of conversation or close observation). The key here is that the believing wife treat her husband with honor - which would include not being obsessed about her external appearance nor presenting herself before other men in a provocative manner - such is reserved only for her husband.]
"3:7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers."
[Note: Believing husbands are to treat their wives, believing wives or not, with honor - if they want the Lord God to honor their prayers. With the rare exception of the OT judge Deborah the males were responsible for leadership and the conduct of warfare, therefore held superior roles of power and would have tended to be physiologically more powerful as well. It is helpful to recall that Christians are called to be "meek", a term which meant power under control; more precisely, power under the control of God.]
"3:8 Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. 3:9 Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing. 3:10 For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit."
"3:11a And he must turn away from evil and do good;"
"3:11b ... he must seek peace and pursue it."
"3:12a For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer."
"3:12b But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil."
"3:13 For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good?"
[Note: This was a rhetorical statement which intent was to refer to the Lord God, rather than evil men who will harm Christians and non-Christians alike, regardless of their faith; sometimes merely because they can and for no other reason.]
"3:14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken."
[Note: "Terror" and "shaken" generally refer to a faith-level fear as relates to ones eternal circumstances - so Peter warned believers to not be terrified of those who cause them "to suffer for doing what is right" because that only affirmed that they were "blessed" with assured salvation.]
"3:15 But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. 3:16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you."
[Note: There are several elements to observe here:
"...set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts" - This is an intentional submission.
"... always be ready to give an answer" for "... the hope you possess" - Know your testimony.
"... to anyone who asks" - Don't force the conversation, wait for the Holy Spirit to prepare and prompt them. There is no point in a testimony to one whose "ears" are closed.
"... do it with courtesy and respect" - Your story is yours, it should not include attacks or pejoratives about others, and it should not be designed to manipulate others. Leave the heart-level work to the Holy Spirit of God whose motivations are pure. This does not mean that your testimony may not be passionate - it should be.
"... keeping a good conscience" - Generally speaking your hypocrisy will neutralize your otherwise good testimony.
"... so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ" - They will not be slandering your hypocrisy, that testifies for itself, the meaning of slander is falsehoods about what you do to honor Christ which serves as a "stumbling block" to those who are in rebellion.
"... may be put to shame when they accuse you." - If your testimony for good conduct is not neutralized by hypocrisy then when you are attacked most who observe the attack will recognize that the accuser is in the wrong.
"3:17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil."
[Note: Sometimes the Lord God allows us to function in the role of martyr, suffering before a watching people, falsely accused and mistreated. Not only is the one who attacks seen as doing wrong but your right-response to the false treatment will create an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to bring the gospel to the lost.]
"3:18a Because Christ also suffered once for sins,"
[Note: Our role model is Christ.]
"3:18b ... the just for the unjust,"
[Note: He had no sin, thus He was clearly unjustly mistreated, yet He was used more powerfully to the benefit of others that any martyr in history.]
"3:18c ... to bring you to God,"
[Note: He did so for the same reason, but in our cases to a lesser degree, that He now asks us to bear suffering.]
"3:18d ... by being put to death in the flesh"
[Note: Some of our suffering will separate us from things of the flesh that we value but which are either impediments to our well-being or are necessary sacrifices for the greater good of others though our testimony in our suffering.]
"3:18e ... but by being made alive in the spirit."
[Note: Just as Jesus was "... made alive in the Spirit" as a result of the death of His flesh in the world, so are we “... being made alive in the spirit" when our flesh is sacrificed for the cause of Christ.]
"3:19 In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison,
[Note: While Jesus was dead in the flesh, yet alive in the Spirit, He preached to a subset of the dead - see following for a further discussion.]
3:20a after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. "
[Note: Two alternative understandings are greatly debated; I am more comfortable with the NET translator's preference for the reading that Jesus brought the Gospel to those who were in Hell due to their pre-Noadic sin, and who died in it, rather than the suggestion that Peter intended that Jesus preached to the unredeemable fallen angels, since such would appear to be unproductive gloating.
There is a powerful debate about the specifics of this text within the scholarly community of Bible students that swirls around the recitation of the Apostles Creed.
In the 16th century "hell" meant hades as such, rather than the final state of the lost....as it generally is used today. We also have the varying understanding of the impact of linear time and timelessness as well as the "hades" construct that these are "asleep" prior to the judgment.
If one insists upon a timeline of immediate judgment at the moment of death then one still must allow that this is a pre-judgment preaching of Jesus to those who are "on hold" in hades prior to the Great White Throne Judgment.
This, of course, begs the question "Is there any other example of Jesus preaching to those "who are asleep" as a post-physical death/pre-judgment form of evangelism or is this an historically-exclusive event with a unique purpose?
Or does one take Peter's text as purely rhetorical and not at all intended to be literal?
This text, not carefully considered (which tends to be beyond the scope of our current survey-type studies), does create an opportunity for theological mischief in the form of a "third reality of consciousness" between the flesh and eternity - purgatory.]
"3:20b In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water. 3:21 And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you – not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 3:22 who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him."
[Note: The saving "baptism" of Jesus is the result of ".. the pledge of a good conscience to God" and nothing related to the physical water. This is a valuable illustration as one notes the linkage to Noah and the other eight, who never even touched the water, nor were they below the waters - what we know as Biblical baptism is a purely symbolic act.]
Interaction
Consider
The persistent theme of Peter throughout these verses is the importance of our "good conduct"; the testimony of our faith which is viewed by the world through our daily walk.
Discuss
What are some practical ways to always have a ready testimony? Also, if married, discuss some practical ways to honor your spouse.
Reflect
The Lord God's expectation is that we be prepared to handle suffering for our faith and that we trust Him to redeem good from what the enemy intends for evil.
Share
What is an example of your testimony, or that of someone you know personally, where their response to suffering has been used by God to lead others to salvation or a believer to greater maturity?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone whom He has prepared and prompted to ask you to share it for His purpose in their life.
Action:
Today I am choosing to review my testimony, do I have one that is brief and clear, courteous and respectful to the listener? I will share my testimony with a fellow believer and ask them to prayerfully reflect with me how it may be heard by a not-yet-saved person. If there is anything about it that may be improved to make it a more useful tool for the Lord, especially anything that draws more attention to me than to the Lord, I will humbly modify it.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Wednesday (1 Peter 4-5)
4:1 So, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin, 4:2 in that he spends the rest of his time on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires.
4:3 For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to do what the non-Christians desire. You lived then in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking bouts, and wanton idolatries.
4:4 So they are astonished when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you.
4:5 They will face a reckoning before Jesus Christ who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.
4:6 Now it was for this very purpose that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh by human standards they may live spiritually by God’s standards.
Service, Suffering, and Judgment
4:7 For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.
4:8 Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins. 4:9 Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
4:10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.
4:11 Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
4:12 Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you.
4:13 But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad.
4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you.
4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker.
4:16 But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name.
4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God?
4:18 And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and sinners? 4:19 So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good.
Leading and Living in God’s Flock
5:1 So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you:
5:2 Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
5:3 And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock.
5:4 Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.
5:5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
5:6 And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand 5:7 by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.
5:8 Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.
5:9 Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering.
5:10 And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 5:11 To him belongs the power forever. Amen.
Final Greetings
5:12 Through Silvanus, whom I know to be a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, in order to encourage you and testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. 5:13 The church in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you, and so does Mark, my son.
5:14 Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Prayer
Lord, You in-Jesus led with grace and humility, and we are to model our lives after Him. May I mature in my relationship with You so that I am also grace-filled and humble as both a follower and a leader.
Summary & Commentary
4:1 So, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin, 4:2 in that he spends the rest of his time on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires.
[Note: When one discovers that physical appearance and physical pleasure do not result in lasting happiness but joy in the Lord fills the heart endlessly, one experiences a transformation of perspective. Sometimes this comes through an emotional-intellectual-spiritual encounter with God and His Word through the Holy Spirit and sometimes we make it necessary for God to deprive us of appearance, health, and/or the resources to feed our narcissism.]
4:3 For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to do what the non-Christians desire. You lived then in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking bouts, and wanton idolatries.
[Note: "... the time that has past" is a phrase Peter used to draw a line in the life of the believer which clearly separates them from who they were versus who they have become in-Christ.]
4:4 So they are astonished when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you.
[Note: Those who knew you are peers-in-sin now find your sin-resistant spirit a stumbling block which triggers the condemnation of the Law within - so from their rebellious hearts they attack you instead of dealing with their sin.]
4:5 They will face a reckoning before Jesus Christ who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.
4:6 Now it was for this very purpose that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh by human standards they may live spiritually by God’s standards.
[Note: Some might speculate that Peter was returning to his prior point about Jesus preaching to the "dead" from the day of Noah, but it seems more likely that he was speaking of those who used to be dead in their sin but because of the gospel are now made alive eternally in Christ.]
4:7 For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.
4:8 Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.
4:9 Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
4:10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 4:11a Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words.
4:11b Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ.
4:11c To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
4:12 Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you.
[Note: Peter wanted his readers to avoid the confusion that comes from thinking that their circumstances are unique.]
4:13 But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad. 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you.
4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker.
[Note: We may never blame the Lord God for suffering that results from sinful rebellion, though we may turn away from that sin and ask the Lord to redeem something good from it, even as we accept the worldly consequences.]
4:16 But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name. 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God? 4:18 And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and sinners? 4:19 So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good.
[Note: Peter warned that the Lord God would judge those in the "... house of God" who continued in their sin, yet noted that if they were to be judged - while protected from eternal consequences by grace - what might those not so protected anticipate as their fate?]
5:1 So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you: 5:2 Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
[Note: Peter exhorted "elders" (spiritual leaders) to assure that the integrity of the teaching of the gospel, discipleship (including discipline), and care-giving to believers was maintained. They were to do so without drawing attention to themselves nor accepting more compensation - which would divert funds that might otherwise go to the care of the needy and/or to evangelism and discipleship - than necessary.]
5:3 And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. 5:4 Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.
[Note: Every leader is a peer "child of God" with every other believer. Arrogance and bullying is not acceptable. leaders are to lead-first from the example of their lives, embodying the "fruits of the Spirit.]
5:5a In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.
[Note: Just as elders/leaders are to be subject to the Holy Spirit those who are younger in spiritual maturity - regardless of chronological age - are to submit to those who are more spiritually mature.]
5.5b And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
[Note: Peter challenged everyone to live with humble spirits as the tendency of "the old man", the flesh in this world, is toward pride.]
5:6 And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand 5:7 by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.
[Note: Peter reminded his readers that ours is a loving God with all power - we trust everything to Him because He wants to bless us - and He is already aware of our needs. When we don't cast all our cares on God we come to either resent God or look to ourselves or to fellow humans for answers - guaranteed imperfect answers.]
5:8 Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.
[Note: Peter alerted his readers to the reality of spiritual warfare, a genuine evil enemy, and our need to be on our guard against him.]
5:9 Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering.
[Note: Peter reminded them that they had the authority to resist the enemy and were expected to do so. He did not suggest that none will suffer in the struggle, any more that any army is without injuries in a battle, but he affirmed that believers hold the superior hand in-Christ. He wanted his readers to remember that their struggles were in-common with other believers "throughout the world".]
5:10 And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 5:11 To him belongs the power forever. Amen.
[Note: The Lord God allows our suffering to mature us and to serve as a witness to our faith - then He steps in and demonstrates His loving power.]
5:14 Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Interaction
Consider
When one discovers that physical appearance and physical pleasure do not result in lasting happiness, but joy in the Lord fills the heart endlessly, one experiences a transformation of perspective. Sometimes this comes through an emotional-intellectual-spiritual encounter with the Lord God and His Word through the Holy Spirit and sometimes we make it necessary for Him to deprive us of appearance, health, and/or other resources that feed our narcissism.]
Discuss
What are some practical ways to "... be self-controlled and sober-minded" (see verses 4:7-11a)
Reflect
Peter's challenge to leaders is found in 5:1-3. Do you observe these characteristics in your leaders? Have you prayed for them? Have you thanked them for honoring the Word in this way?
Share
What is a practical example of your submission to leaders who are faithful to God's expectations in the text of 5:1-3?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you ways that you need to shore-up your spiritual defenses.
Action:
Today I am choosing to "be sober and alert" to the enemy who "... is on the prowl looking for someone to devour" and to "resist him, strong in your faith". I will review the teaching of Paul re. "Putting on the full armor of God" and discover where I fall short.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Thursday (2 Peter 1)
Salutation
1:1 From Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, have been granted a faith just as precious as ours.
1:2 May grace and peace be lavished on you as you grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!
Believers’ Salvation and the Work of God
1:3 I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.
1:4 Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire.
1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; 1:6 to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; 1:7 to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love.
1:8 For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately.
1:9 But concerning the one who lacks such things – he is blind. That is to say, he is nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins.
1:10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin.
1:11 For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.
Salvation Based on the Word of God
1:12 Therefore, I intend to remind you constantly of these things even though you know them and are well established in the truth that you now have.
1:13 Indeed, as long as I am in this tabernacle, I consider it right to stir you up by way of a reminder, 1:14 since I know that my tabernacle will soon be removed, because our Lord Jesus Christ revealed this to me. 1:15 Indeed, I will also make every effort that, after my departure, you have a testimony of these things.
1:16 For we did not follow cleverly concocted fables when we made known to you the power and return of our Lord Jesus Christ; no, we were eyewitnesses of his grandeur.
1:17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father, when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory: “This is my dear Son, in whom I am delighted.”
1:18 When this voice was conveyed from heaven, we ourselves heard it, for we were with him on the holy mountain.
1:19 Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
1:20 Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, 1:21 for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Prayer
Lord, You teach us that Your desire is to lavish grace and peace on Your children as we obediently submit to Your discipleship and “... grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!” May I be found faithful and humble and teachable so that You may bless me and shape me into a useful instrument of Your great plan.
Summary & Commentary
“1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; 1:6 to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; 1:7 to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love.”
[Note: Peter was describing “ultrafidian” faith, the enhancements that follow saving faith, in 1:5-7. The absence of these things impede discipleship-to-maturity.]
1:10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin. 1:11 For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.
[Note: Peter used an unusual phrase “... make every effort to be sure of your calling and election”. If “calling and election” were fatalist constructs, as some religious philosophers would have it, then there would be no need to “be sure of” since those who are called and elected were such before they were even born. A Biblical understanding, addressed in a prior study, correctly defines these terms as the promised qualification for salvation conditioned upon a volitional submission to the Lordship of Christ. In this context it makes good sense to be certain that your heart was right with Christ when you believe that you were saved, not “magic words” or words said to satisfy the urgings of fellow humans, not a mere intellectual affirmation, and not an affirmation with any conditions attached - simply an unqualified surrender of everything to Christ. Once certain of that one may be led through 1:5-7 by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Absent that one is trying to live Christ-like out of ones own strength - which guaranteed to fail.]
1:12 Therefore, I intend to remind you constantly of these things even though you know them and are well established in the truth that you now have. 1:13 Indeed, as long as I am in this tabernacle, I consider it right to stir you up by way of a reminder, 1:14 since I know that my tabernacle will soon be removed, because our Lord Jesus Christ revealed this to me. 1:15 Indeed, I will also make every effort that, after my departure, you have a testimony of these things.
[Note: Peter promised to “nag” the believers to act based on their confession of submission to the Lordship of Christ, he reminded them that he knew his time was short, and committed to press for them to be so well-discipled that they would continue his work.]
1:16 For we did not follow cleverly concocted fables when we made known to you the power and return of our Lord Jesus Christ; no, we were eyewitnesses of his grandeur.
[Note: This stands as a challenge to every competing religious system to Biblical-Christianity.]
1:17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father, when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory: “This is my dear Son, in whom I am delighted.” 1:18 When this voice was conveyed from heaven, we ourselves heard it, for we were with him on the holy mountain.
1:19 Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
1:20 Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, 1:21 for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
[Note: The Bible is ultimately authored by God who permitted men to pen it, using their “voices” to communicate His message/]
Interaction
Consider
The exhortation of Peter that those who read his words should make certain of their salvation. If they were not experiencing the growth he described in 1:5-7 he suggested that they may not truly be saved as such is the inevitable result of the working of the indwelling Holy Spirit (“... a downpayment” on the promise of salvation 2 Cor. 2:22).
Discuss
With all of the noisy challenges to the authority and credibility of Biblical-Christianity does it make a difference to hear Peter affirm the Lord God's authorship of the Bible?
Reflect
Peter's assurance should be that of every Biblical-Christian leader, that they – like Peter - would (will) "nag" believers to be certain that they understood (understand) the Gospel (and the elements of vs 1:5-7) well enough to both live them and share them with others.
Share
What is an example of 1:5-7 being taught and worked-out in your life and in your fellowship?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to review your life for evidence that you have learned and are increasingly living the teaching of 1:5-7.
Action:
Today I am choosing to partner with the Holy Spirit, and the "elders", to reinforce my knowledge of and working-out of these vital post-salvation "ultrafidian" (beyond faith) evidences of salvation and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit of God.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Friday (2 Peter 2)
The False Teachers’ Ungodly Lifestyle
2:1 But false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. These false teachers will infiltrate your midst with destructive heresies, even to the point of denying the Master who bought them. As a result, they will bring swift destruction on themselves.
2:2 And many will follow their debauched lifestyles. Because of these false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.
2:3 And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation pronounced long ago is not sitting idly by; their destruction is not asleep.
2:4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment, 2:5 and if he did not spare the ancient world, but did protect Noah, a herald of righteousness, along with seven others, when God brought a flood on an ungodly world, 2:6 and if he turned to ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah when he condemned them to destruction, having appointed them to serve as an example to future generations of the ungodly, 2:7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man in anguish over the debauched lifestyle of lawless men, 2:8 (for while he lived among them day after day, that righteous man was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard) 2:9 – if so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials, and to reserve the unrighteous for punishment at the day of judgment, 2:10 especially those who indulge their fleshly desires and who despise authority. Brazen and insolent, they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones, 2:11 yet even angels, who are much more powerful, do not bring a slanderous judgment against them before the Lord.
2:12 But these men, like irrational animals – creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed – do not understand whom they are insulting, and consequently in their destruction they will be destroyed, 2:13 suffering harm as the wages for their harmful ways. By considering it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight, they are stains and blemishes, indulging in their deceitful pleasures when they feast together with you.
2:14 Their eyes, full of adultery, never stop sinning; they entice unstable people. They have trained their hearts for greed, these cursed children!
2:15 By forsaking the right path they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, 2:16 yet was rebuked for his own transgression (a dumb donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the prophet’s madness).
2:17 These men are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm, for whom the utter depths of darkness have been reserved.
2:18 For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.
2:19 Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved.
2:20 For if after they have escaped the filthy things of the world through the rich knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again get entangled in them and succumb to them, their last state has become worse for them than their first.
2:21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them.
2:22 They are illustrations of this true proverb: “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and “A sow, after washing herself, wallows in the mire.”
Prayer
Lord, You have warned us about false teachers, yet from the time of Jesus until now many have been led astray. May I be Berean in testing all teaching against the Word of God and bold in speaking against apostasy.
Summary & Commentary
2:1 But false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. These false teachers will infiltrate your midst with destructive heresies, even to the point of denying the Master who bought them. As a result, they will bring swift destruction on themselves.
[Note: The Lord God defends His Word and His children, but we must pay attention to the ways He tells us that He will warn us of false teachers, including the Berean model of checking all teaching against the Word. Peter shared the clear evidences that a teacher was a false teacher. The first was to deny Christ - as He is defined by the Word - not by the distortions of man.]
2:2 And many will follow their debauched lifestyles. Because of these false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 2:3 And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation pronounced long ago is not sitting idly by; their destruction is not asleep.
[Note: False teachers will live debauched lifestyles and will encourage others to do the same.]
Peter walked his readers through a checklist of the Lord God’s recorded past actions - followed by a logical conclusion:
2:4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment,
2:5 and if he did not spare the ancient world, but did protect Noah, a herald of righteousness, along with seven others, when God brought a flood on an ungodly world,
2:6 and if he turned to ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah when he condemned them to destruction, having appointed them to serve as an example to future generations of the ungodly,
2:7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man in anguish over the debauched lifestyle of lawless men, 2:8 (for while he lived among them day after day, that righteous man was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)
2:9a – if so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials,
[Note: Based on what the Lord God has done we may have confidence as to what He will do for us.]
2:9b and to reserve the unrighteous for punishment at the day of judgment, 2:10 especially those who indulge their fleshly desires and who despise authority. Brazen and insolent, they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones,
2:11 yet even angels, who are much more powerful, do not bring a slanderous judgment against them before the Lord.
[Note: It is not the place of the angels to condemn or to judge, nor would they bring a “slanderous judgment” since that would require them to misrepresent truth, rather the truthful judgment will be brought in good time by the Lord God.]
2:12 But these men, like irrational animals – creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed – do not understand whom they are insulting, and consequently in their destruction they will be destroyed, 2:13 suffering harm as the wages for their harmful ways. By considering it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight, they are stains and blemishes, indulging in their deceitful pleasures when they feast together with you. 2:14 Their eyes, full of adultery, never stop sinning; they entice unstable people. They have trained their hearts for greed, these cursed children! 2:15 By forsaking the right path they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, 2:16 yet was rebuked for his own transgression (a dumb donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the prophet’s madness).
[Note: It is important to remember that Peter is still speaking of false teachers. It is important to not extrapolate from the intended context of the text without great care and corroborating text elsewhere in the Bible.]
2:17 These men are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm, for whom the utter depths of darkness have been reserved. 2:18 For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.
[Note: It is unlikely that that the people of whom Peter spoke were saved, it likely means that they had ceased following the Judaisers and other false teachers only to fall pray to new ones.]
2:19 Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved.
2:20 For if after they have escaped the filthy things of the world through the rich knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again get entangled in them and succumb to them, their last state has become worse for them than their first. 2:21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them.
[Note: Peter wanted it known that once one hears the gospel, especially a teacher, one is without excuse.]
2:22 They are illustrations of this true proverb: “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and “A sow, after washing herself, wallows in the mire.”
[Note: Peter used really unpleasant word-pictures to make certain that people understand the heart-condition of those who reject the gospel, after hearing it and saying they would follow, yet then returning to a false gospel.]
Interaction
Consider
The warning about false teachers is as important today, perhaps even more-so, than in Peter's time. While he was defending the newly-growing “Church”, the fellowship of believers, we are facing the latter days of these end times.
Discuss
What are some practical ways to evaluate true and false teachers? May the outward evidences of their lifestyles, at-odds with “the fruits of the Spirit”, and their obvious breaks with the other teachings of the Word?
Reflect
How different are we than those people who returned to their old sinful ways after hearing the gospel? Do we make excuses?
Share
What examples of the Lord God's actions in the OT inspire you to trust Him in His promises for your life?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to evaluate those whose teaching you trust, based on Peter's teaching.
Action:
Today, if error is revealed to me, I will respectfully challenge it. If the teacher is unrepentant I will remove myself from their teaching.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Saturday (2 Peter 3)
The False Teachers’ Denial of the Lord’s Return
3:1 Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written you, in which I am trying to stir up your pure mind by way of reminder:
3:2 I want you to recall both the predictions foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3:3 Above all, understand this: In the last days blatant scoffers will come, being propelled by their own evil urges 3:4 and saying, “Where is his promised return? For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.”
3:5 For they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water. 3:6 Through these things the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water. 3:7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
3:8 Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day.
3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare.
3:11 Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness, 3:12 while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God? Because of this day, the heavens will be burned up and dissolve, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze!
3:13 But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides.
Exhortation to the Faithful
3:14 Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for these things, strive to be found at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence.
3:15 And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him, 3:16 speaking of these things in all his letters. Some things in these letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures.
3:17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men and fall from your firm grasp on the truth.
3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.
Prayer
Lord, all of the thing of fallen-creation will one-day be destroyed, You will create a new and perfect and rebellion-free heaven and earth. May I be faithful to see myself as set-apart by You to be-perfected rather than seeing myself as of this temporary world.
Summary & Commentary
3:1 Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written you, in which I am trying to stir up your pure mind by way of reminder: 3:2 I want you to recall both the predictions foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3:3 Above all, understand this: In the last days blatant scoffers will come, being propelled by their own evil urges 3:4 and saying, “Where is his promised return? For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.” 3:5 For they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water. 3:6 Through these things the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water.
[Note: The text reads as if Peter was condemning the teaching of evolution “... they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the word of God ...”. It is interesting to note Peter’s reference to the creation narrative where the land was separated from the water and later swept-clean using, again, the image of immersion in water.]
3:7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
[Note: Elsewhere it has been observed that everything is held together by the word of Christ and will remain intact until Judgment.]
3:8 Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day.
[Note: Peter reminded his readers that God exists apart from the created thing we know as linear time.]
3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
[Note: God is “stalling” Judgment as it is His desire that “any ... perish but for all to come to repentance.”]
3:10a But the day of the Lord will come like a thief;
[Note: This means He will come unannounced.]
3:10b when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare.
[Note: Peter declared that there is no life elsewhere in the “heavens”, at least none containing a spiritual nature of interest to the Lord God - since it will all be obliterated and only Earth will remain to receive His attention.]
3:11 Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness, 3:12 while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God? Because of this day, the heavens will be burned up and dissolve, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze! 3:13 But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides. 3:14 Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for these things, strive to be found at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence.
3:15 And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him, 3:16 speaking of these things in all his letters. Some things in these letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures.
[Note: Peter was referring back to the Lord wanting more to be saved and to his prior reminder that the false teachers were suppressing the Lord God’s activity in history.]
3:17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men and fall from your firm grasp on the truth.
3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.
Interaction
Consider
Peter's reference to the Lord God's creation of earth, and the tendency of scoffers to dismiss or ignore that in their teaching, stands as an intentional challenge to the godless formulations of evolution.
Discuss
What are some practical ways to "... grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"?
Reflect
What does the Lord God's desire that not "any ... perish but for all to come to repentance." say about His heart? How does it make bearing-up under the challenges and horrors of this fallen world just a little easier?
Share
What is a good example or illustration which helps to explain the difference between the timeless perspective of God and the time-bound nature of His creation?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one area where you need to "... grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ".
Action:
Today I am committing to ask at least one fellow believer to join me in that "adventure" and together we will agree to partner with the Holy Spirit.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – “1 & 2 Peter” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in May of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Sunday (1 John 1)
The Prologue to the Letter
1:1 This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched (concerning the word of life – 1:2 and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us).
1:3 What we have seen and heard we announce to you too, so that you may have fellowship with us (and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ). 1:4 Thus we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
God Is Light, So We Must Walk in the Light
1:5 Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
1:6 If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth.
1:7 But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
1:8 If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
1:9 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.
1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.
Prayer
Lord, Your apostles testified to You because they wanted others to share their blessings of salvation. May I be as dedicated, sacrificially so - as necessary, to sharing Your blessings with others.
Summary & Commentary
“1:1 This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched (concerning the word of life – 1:2 and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us).”
[Note: John established his first-hand knowledge-credentials. He also affirmed the deity of Christ.]
“... the eternal life that was with the Father [Jesus, the Logos – Word]
“... we have seen with our eyes c the word of life [The Word of Life refers to Jesus.]
“... was revealed to us [The person of the Trinity, Jesus.]
“1:3 What we have seen and heard we announce to you too, so that you may have fellowship with us (and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ). 1:4 Thus we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”
[Note: The Great Commission was that every believer was to announce to the world what the Lord God has revealed in His Gospel. Because of the Greatest Commandment, we love one-another as believers, and we find joy in adding to the numbers of those who share in that love.]
“1:5 Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.”
[Note: The Gospel message refers specifically to Jesus, and they heard that message directly from Him, and that message announces that the Lord God is light.]
“1:6 If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth.”
[Note: When we surrender to Christ we are transformed eternally, and we are joined to Him through the Holy Spirit, thus we cannot truly be His and continue to live as if nothing has happened. The fruits of the Spirit must be displayed in and through us or else we do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit and are not saved. To a lesser degree those who try to rationalize certain sinful conduct in any way must know from this text that they are harming their fellowship with their Lord, God – thus they are not in intentional-fellowship at all – even though their salvation may be genuine.]
“1:7 But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
1:8 If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
[Note: The Holy Spirit makes our understanding clear, if we say that sin is not what makes the salvation of Christ necessary then we do not have the Holy Spirit, and therefore are not saved. In a lesser sense one who suggests that some specific sin does not make us, without Christ, subject to eternal condemnation then they are saying that the Word of God is not true. That is apostasy.]
“1:9 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.” 1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.”
[Note: There is no forgiveness and no salvation possible for one who believes themselves without the need for The Savior. Forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration is available to those who acknowledge their need.]
Interaction
Consider
The joy that we share with our Lord, God, is magnified every time just-one-more shares in our fellowship.
Discuss
What are some practical ways to disciple believers to share a powerful desire to find joy in adding to the numbers of those who share in the eternal and saving love of the Lord God?
Reflect
John’s words “We have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.” amplify our confidence in the Word.
Share
What is an example from your fellowship where they celebrate every new believer?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you some ways that you may become more attuned to, and excited about, sharing the gospel.
Action:
Today I am choosing to ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement and to walk with me as I explore the ways of caring and sharing His Gospel with others.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Monday (1 John 2)
2:1 (My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One, 2:2 and he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.
Keeping God’s Commandments
2:3 Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments.
2:4 The one who says “I have come to know God” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person.
2:5 But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him.
2:6 The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.
2:7 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have already heard.
2:8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
2:9 The one who says he is in the light but still hates his fellow Christian is still in the darkness.
2:10 The one who loves his fellow Christian resides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
2:11 But the one who hates his fellow Christian is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Words of Reassurance
2:12 I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his name.
2:13 I am writing to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, that you have conquered the evil one.
2:14 I have written to you, children, that you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young people, that you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.
2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, 2:16 because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world.
2:17 And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.
Warning About False Teachers
2:18 Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour.
2:19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us, because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us.
2:20 Nevertheless you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.
2:21 I have not written to you that you do not know the truth, but that you do know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
2:22 Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son.
2:23 Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also.
2:24 As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.
2:25 Now this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life.
2:26 These things I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you.
2:27 Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him.
Children of God
2:28 And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back.
2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him.
Prayer
Lord, You have given to us Your light, for this world and for eternity. May I be careful to walk the path You have set-out before me and to avoid those who preach against Your truth and/or those who preach “another Gospel”.
Summary & Commentary
Peter explained that the expectation of the Lord God is not perfection, it is that we be intentional about our effort to keep the commandments, with His Holy Spirit to guide and empower us.
“2:7 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have already heard.”
[Note: John refers to the prior “Greatest Commandment” of Jesus that believers love one another – one value of which is the evangelically-attractive evidence/witness of our association with Jesus.]
“2:8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.”
[Note: John’s “new commandment” added detail to the “old commandment”.]
“2:9 The one who says he is in the light but still hates his fellow Christian is still in the darkness.”
“2:10 The one who loves his fellow Christian resides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 2:11 But the one who hates his fellow Christian is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”
[Note: This author considers this to be an unacceptable compromise in the NET Bible, done for the sake of readability, but at the price of accuracy – implying a meaning completely at-odds with the what appears from this perspective to be the intent of the Lord God. “... fellow Christians” should read “... fellow member of the community”, or the like. The reason is that it is self-contradictory – one may not lack eternal life and be a “fellow Christian”, keeping with the consistent usage of the term in 1 John. This problem with the rendering is acknowledged in the NET Translator’s Notes.]
“2:12 I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his name.”
[Note: John was reminding his readers that their salvation was intact because of Jesus and that any suggestion to the contrary was a false teaching.]
“2:13a I am writing to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning.”
[Note: John was reminding his readers of the eternal pre-existence of the Son Who is in and poured-out through the man/God Jesus; therefore they should have confidence in His power to save.]
“2”13b I am writing to you, young people, that you have conquered the evil one.”
[Note: John wanted his readers to remember that their salvation represented an eternal victory over the evil one – they need not fear what he could do to them eternally – though he represented a source of harassment in this world.]
“2:14a I have written to you, children, that you have known the Father.”
[Note: John was restating his prior argument for the Trinity, then about Jesus, now about the Father.]
“2:14b I have written to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. 2:14c I have written to you, young people, that you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.”
[Note: John repeated himself for emphasis.]
“2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, 2:16 because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
“2:17 And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.”
[Note: John wanted his readers to understand that their choice for or against Christ is an eternally binding one.]
“2:18 Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour. 2:19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us, because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us.”
[Note: The “antichrists” “came out from us” means that they were from the same Jewish heritage and/or the same region, and/or received some of the same teaching but chose to reject Christ and to preach and teach falsehoods. (Judah functioned as a sort of amti-Christ.]
“2:20 Nevertheless you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.”
[Note: Those who are truly saved have the indwelling Holy Spirit may discern true from false teaching.]
“2:21 I have not written to you that you do not know the truth, but that you do know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 2:22 Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son. 2:23 Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also.”
[Note: Some of the deceivers attempted to claim that they were saved via some direct relationship with the Father, bypassing Jesus; John assured his readers that this was not true. All are saved the same way.]
“2:24 As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 2:25 Now this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life. 2:26 These things I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you.”
[Note: The conditional is “If” - “If what you heard from the beginning remains in you” refers to the one who has been saved. One who has not been saved would not retain the teaching as it would not have been kept for them by the indwelling Holy Spirit.]
“2:27 Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him.”
[Note: John rephrased and clarified vss 2:24-26]
“2:28 And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back.”
[Note: John was not placing their salvation in question, merely their sense of dishonor before Christ – if they had failed to live righteously prior to His return.]
“2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him.”
[Note: John was exhorting them that righteous living is the expectation of all believers and that any teaching to the contrary is false. There were some who lived and taught that specific sins were acceptable.]
Interaction
Consider
The repeated emphasis of John on righteous living.
Discuss
What are some practical ways that we might live more righteous lives?
Reflect
One problem then, and now, is false teachers who promote(d) the notion that grace allows unrighteous living.
Share
What is an example from your life where your knowledge of the “Greatest Commandment” “... love one another” helped you to resist the temptation of the enemy to act in unloving ways toward a fellow believer?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an area in your life where you have made excuses for unrighteous behavior.
Action:
Today I agree to partner with the Holy Spirit, with accountability from a prayer partner, to repent of my unrighteous behavior, to reconcile my behavior with the Word of God, and to be restored to a closer daily walk with my Lord, God.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Tuesday (1 John 3)
3:1 (See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children – and indeed we are! For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know him.
3:2 Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is.
3:3 And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure).
3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; indeed, sin is lawlessness.
3:5 And you know that Jesus was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
3:6 Everyone who resides in him does not sin; everyone who sins has neither seen him nor known him.
3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous.
3:8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the works of the devil.
3:9 Everyone who has been fathered by God does not practice sin, because God’s seed resides in him, and thus he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered by God.
3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are revealed: Everyone who does not practice righteousness – the one who does not love his fellow Christian – is not of God.
God Is Love, So We Must Love One Another
3:11 For this is the gospel message that you have heard from the beginning: that we should love one another, 3:12 not like Cain who was of the evil one and brutally murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous.
3:13 Therefore do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
3:14 We know that we have crossed over from death to life because we love our fellow Christians. The one who does not love remains in death.
3:15 Everyone who hates his fellow Christian is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
3:16 We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians.
3:17 But whoever has the world’s possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person?
3:18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth.
3:19 And by this we will know that we are of the truth and will convince our conscience in his presence, 3:20 that if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience and knows all things.
3:21 Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God, 3:22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing to him.
3:23 Now this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he gave us the commandment.
3:24 And the person who keeps his commandments resides in God, and God in him. Now by this we know that God resides in us: by the Spirit he has given us.
Prayer
Lord, You dwell in us through Your Holy Spirit, and His fruits are poured-out through us as love given sacrificially to fellow believers who share Your Holy Spirit. May I be found a willing and useful vessel of Your love to my brothers and sisters in-Christ.
Summary & Commentary
“3:1 (See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children – and indeed we are! For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know him. 3:2 Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is. 3:3 And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure).”
[Note: When the Lord God prepared him to write Revelation John was given a glimpse of Heaven, and some of what he saw he was told not to record. The Lord did not want us to be distracted by that but rather to attend to the business of purifying ourselves.]
“3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; indeed, sin is lawlessness. 3:5 And you know that Jesus was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 3:6 Everyone who resides in him does not sin; everyone who sins has neither seen him nor known him.”
[Note: This does not mean that we are expected to be sin-free, it means that we do not ‘practice’ sin; meaning, we do not repeat the same sin over and over - without regret.]
“3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous. 3:8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the works of the devil. 3:9 Everyone who has been fathered by God does not practice sin, because God’s seed resides in him, and thus he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered by God. 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are revealed: Everyone who does not practice righteousness – the one who does not love his fellow Christian – is not of God.”
[Note: John repeated himself to be certain that his point was made. Just as we are not expected to be sin-free we are also not expected to be perfectly righteous – we are to demonstrate an intentional effort to seek righteousness in partnership with the Holy Spirit.]
“3:11 For this is the gospel message that you have heard from the beginning: that we should love one another, 3:12 not like Cain who was of the evil one and brutally murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous.”
[Note: As we read in Ecclesiastes “There is nothing new under the sun.” The confrontation between good and evil has been long and continuous, as first recorded in the third chapter of the Creation narrative in Genesis.]
“3:13 Therefore do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 3:14 We know that we have crossed over from death to life because we love our fellow Christians. The one who does not love remains in death. 3:15 Everyone who hates his fellow Christian is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. 3:16 We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians. 3:17 But whoever has the world’s possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person?”
[Note: This author considers this to be an unacceptable compromise in the NET Bible, done for the sake of readability, but at the price of accuracy – implying a meaning completely at-odds with the what appears from this perspective to be the intent of the Lord God. “... fellow Christians” should read “... fellow member of the community”, or the like. The reason is that it is self-contradictory – one may not lack eternal life and be a “fellow Christian”, keeping with the consistent usage of the term in 1 John. This problem with the rendering is acknowledged in the NET Translator’s Notes.]
“3:18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth. 3:19 And by this we will know that we are of the truth and will convince our conscience in his presence, 3:20 that if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience and knows all things. 3:21 Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God, 3:22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing to him.”
[Note: It may be helpful to substitute “soul” for “conscience” since the text is speaking of the nexus of our intellect and emotions where we are assured or uncertain of our salvation and our right standing before God.]
“3:23 Now this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he gave us the commandment. 3:24 And the person who keeps his commandments resides in God, and God in him. Now by this we know that God resides in us: by the Spirit he has given us.”
[Note: This latter affirms the Holy Spirit is a member of the Trinity.]
Interaction
Consider
The Bible tells us the history of good versus evil; Cain harbored unrighteous attitudes and sinned against his brother Abel, who sought to be righteous.
Discuss
What are some practical ways to resist sin and to pursue righteousness?
Reflect
How does the commandment that “... we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another” and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is God residing in us help when we are struggling with hard-to-like/love fellow believers?
Share
What is an example of your “conscience” or “soul” convicting you of a predilection (predisposition) toward sin rather than toward righteousness. How did you respond to that conviction?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to identify an area of your life where you tend to press closer and closer to the “fire” of sin, for the sake of temporary gratification, rather than striving to stretch out toward the blessing of greater righteousness.
Action:
Today I am choosing to partner with the Holy Spirit, and an accountability partner, to reverse direction in the less-righteous area(s) of my life.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Wednesday (1 John 4)
Testing the Spirits
4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God, 4:3 but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.
4:4 You are from God, little children, and have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
4:5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world’s perspective and the world listens to them.
4:6 We are from God; the person who knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.
God is Love
4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God.
4:8 The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
4:9 By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him. 4:10 In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
4:11 Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another.
4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us, and his love is perfected in us.
4:13 By this we know that we reside in God and he in us: in that he has given us of his Spirit. 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
4:15 If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in God.
4:16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him.
4:17 By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world.
4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love.
4:19 We love because he loved us first.
4:20 If anyone says “I love God” and yet hates his fellow Christian, he is a liar, because the one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
4:21 And the commandment we have from him is this: that the one who loves God should love his fellow Christian too.
Prayer
Lord, You give us love to test our hearts and the hearts of those who would lead, so that we might know who has Your indwelling Holy Spirit and who does not. May I be careful who I trust as a leader and that my heart is always Yours when I lead.
Summary & Commentary
“4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God, 4:3 but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.”
[Note: John wanted his readers to be keenly aware of the spiritual battle that rages all around them.]
“4:4 You are from God, little children, and have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 4:5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world’s perspective and the world listens to them. 4:6 We are from God; the person who knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.”
[Note: We should not fear the deceiving spirits as we have “... conquered them”, and we continue to do so since we are Children of God. We should also not be surprised when people in the world believe lies instead of the truth as lies are the common-ground among those in rebellion.]
“4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God. 4:8 The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 4:9 By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him. 4:10 In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 4:11 Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another. 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us, and his love is perfected in us. 4:13 By this we know that we reside in God and he in us: in that he has given us of his Spirit. 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”
[Note: John re-emphasized love for one-another (believers) as evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which is evidence of salvation, which itself comes only from confessing (believing and surrendering to ) Jesus Christ as Lord.]
“4:15 If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in God. 4:16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him. 4:17 By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world.
[Note: “Perfected” refers to the Lord God’s love leading us toward and guaranteeing us entry to Heaven.]
“4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love.”
[Note: A truly saved person should never doubt their salvation because the evidence of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, pouring out His love in and through us, should be obvious.]
“4:19 We love because he loved us first. 4:20 If anyone says “I love God” and yet hates his fellow Christian, he is a liar, because the one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 4:21 And the commandment we have from him is this: that the one who loves God should love his fellow Christian too.”
[Note: John drew a powerful contrast; if one sees (in his spirit) a genuinely saved believer – who must be filled with the love of God because he/she has the indwelling Holy Spirit of God – and hates them, then that person cannot him/herself have the Holy Spirit (they have the spirit of the enemy) and they therefore cannot be saved.]
Interaction
Consider
Do you understand the spiritual nature of the battle for truth? Are you in prayer and preparation putting on the “full armor” daily?
Discuss
What are some practical ways to recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person, and ways to recognize a deceiver?
Reflect
The unsaved are vulnerable to deceit and that creates a challenge for evangelistic-missions.
Share
What is a practical example of someone who claimed Christ but who acted unrepentantly-hateful toward a believer (one whose faith-relationship with Christ was obvious to others)?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a process of spiritual maturity to make you more sensitive to deception.
Action:
Today I am choosing to improve one area of my daily walk so that I may protect myself against deception and I will also become more intentional in the outward expression of love for fellow believers.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Thursday (1 John 5)
5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been fathered by God, and everyone who loves the father loves the child fathered by him.
5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God and obey his commandments.
5:3 For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments do not weigh us down,
5:4 because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world.
Testimony About the Son
This is the conquering power that has conquered the world: our faith.
5:5 Now who is the person who has conquered the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
5:6 Jesus Christ is the one who came by water and blood – not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
5:7 For there are three that testify, 5:8 the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three are in agreement.
5:9 If we accept the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, because this is the testimony of God that he has testified concerning his Son.
5:10 (The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has testified concerning his Son.)
5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
5:12 The one who has the Son has this eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal life.
Assurance of Eternal Life
5:13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
5:14 And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
5:15 And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him.
5:16 If anyone sees his fellow Christian committing a sin not resulting in death, he should ask, and God will grant life to the person who commits a sin not resulting in death. There is a sin resulting in death. I do not say that he should ask about that.
5:17 All unrighteousness is sin, but there is sin not resulting in death.
5:18 We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one he has fathered, and the evil one cannot touch him.
5:19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us insight to know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life.
5:21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
Prayer
Lord, You have assured us of salvation and warned us of the danger or idols. May I be watchful to avoid anything that may be an idol, stealing Your rightful place as Lord of my life.
Summary & Commentary
John emphasized his prior point that a saved person has the indwelling Holy Spirit of God as “... the testimony in himself”.
“5:13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
[Note: Here is another affirmation of our assurance of salvation.]
“5:14 And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 5:15 And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him.”
[Note: This has nothing to do with the all-too pervasive ‘name it-claim it’ philosophy that has infiltrated many Christian and quasi-Christian fellowships. John is not asserting that the Lord God ‘... is a cosmic vending machine’, as one has put it, (this is clear from the text immediately following). ‘The phrase ... according to His will’ presumes a sensitivity to the priorities of the Lord and not the world in-rebellion, thus the expectation is of the things for which Jesus expended ‘heavenly energy’, rather than the things of the world He discouraged as a distraction - displacing the more-important.]
“5:16a If anyone sees his fellow Christian committing a sin not resulting in death, he should ask, and God will grant life to the person who commits a sin not resulting in death.”
[Note: This is the qualifier for verses 5:14-5:16a. This is also, unfortunately, another case where “... fellow Christian” is the improper translation (which, oddly enough, the NET translator’s notes acknowledge – yet they still used it!) In this case, as in more than one previous, the more-correct phrase would be “... fellow members of the community”. This is apparent because a Christian does not need to pray for another Christian for their sins to be forgiven such that they will not fall into an unsaved condition – only an unsaved person could benefit from the prayers of a saved one in this manner. Job was asked to pray for his troublesome friends so that they would be blessed (or not punished) by God due to His good-will toward Job. We are asked to consider praying that God will stay His hand of judgment upon our unsaved friends (and family members) despite their sin – witness Jesus and Stephen “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.”]
“5:16b There is a sin resulting in death. I do not say that he should ask about that. 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin, but there is sin not resulting in death.”
[Note: We know from elsewhere in the NT that “... blaspheming the Holy Spirit” has been identified by most scholars as ‘The unforgivable sin.’ This, of course, makes sense as it is only the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit which confirms ones salvation “... the first downpayment of our salvation” as the apostle Paul phrased it.]
“5:18 We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one he has fathered, and the evil one cannot touch him.”
[Note: John was, of course, speaking of “... a sin resulting in (eternal) death” – such is impossible for a truly saved person as they no longer own their free will – they surrendered it at the moment of salvation and the Lord God will never return it as we would only do something dumb with it!]
“5:19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us insight to know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life. 5:21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”
In the Notes section of Counterfeit Gods, Tim Keller has included a helpful list of idol categories:
Theological idols – Doctrinal errors that produce such distorted viewsof God that we end up worshipping a false god.
Sexual idols – Addictions such as pornography and fetishisms that promise but don’t deliver a sense of intimacy and acceptance; ideals of physical beauty in yourself and/or your partner; romantic idealism.
Magic/ritual idols – Witchcraft and the occult. All idolatry is in the end a form of magic that seeks to rebel against the order of transcendent reality rather than submitting to it in love and wisdom.
Political/economic idols – Ideologies of the left, right, and libertarian that absolutize some aspect of political order and make it the solution. Deifying or demonizing free markets, for example.
Racial/national idols – Racism, militarism, nationalism, or ethnic pride that turns bitter or oppressive.
Relational idols – Dysfunctional family systems of codependency; “fatal attraction”; living your life through your children.
Religious idols – Moralism and legalism; idolatry of success and gifts; religion as a pretext for abuse of power.
Philosophical idols – Systems of thought that make some created thing the problem with life (instead of sin) and some human product or enterprise the solution to our problems (instead of God’s grace).
Cultural idols – Radical individualism, as in the West, that makes an idol out of individual happiness at the expense of community; shame cultures that make an idol out of family and clan at the expense of individual rights.
Deep idols – Motivational drives and temperaments made into absolutes: a. Power idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if – I have power and influence over others.” b. Approval idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if – I am loved and respected by __________.” c. Comfort idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if – I have this kind of pleasure experience, a particular quality of life.” d. Control idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if – I am able to get mastery over my life in the area of __________.”
Source: http://blogofdan.co.uk/?p=3385
Interaction
Consider
Verses 5:19-21 are a summary of the rest of Chapter 5 – we have salvation and the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that we may discern truth from lies – but we are responsible to leverage the discernment and wisdom of the Holy Spirit to keep us from drifting into the many forms of idolatry that are so common of the world.
Discuss
What have you been taught about the phrase “... a sin resulting in (eternal) death”? How does this study of this chapter assist your understanding?
Reflect
The Lord God's affirms your salvation through His Holy Spirit.
Share
What an example of the Holy Spirit guiding you away from sin into which you might otherwise have slipped?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone for whom he wants you to pray.
Action:
Today I will pray a request that the Lord God withhold His judgment upon one who has sinned against me - as an act of mercy.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Friday (2 & 3 John)
2 John
Introduction and Thanksgiving
1:1 From the elder, to an elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth (and not I alone, but also all those who know the truth), 1:2 because of the truth that resides in us and will be with us forever.
1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
1:4 I rejoiced greatly because I have found some of your children living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded us.
Warning Against False Teachers
1:5 But now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning), that we love one another.
1:6 (Now this is love: that we walk according to his commandments.) This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning; thus you should walk in it.
1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist!
1:8 Watch out, so that you do not lose the things we have worked for, but receive a full reward.
1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in this teaching has both the Father and the Son.
1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting, 1:11 because the person who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds.
Conclusion
1:12 Though I have many other things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come visit you and speak face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
1:13 The children of your elect sister greet you.
3 John
Introduction and Thanksgiving
1:1 From the elder, to Gaius my dear brother, whom I love in truth.
1:2 Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.
1:3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, just as you are living according to the truth.
1:4 I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are living according to the truth.
The Charge to Gaius
1:5 Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers).
1:6 They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
1:7 For they have gone forth on behalf of “The Name,” accepting nothing from the pagans.
1:8 Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we become coworkers in cooperation with the truth.
Diotrephes the Troublemaker
1:9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us.
1:10 Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing – the bringing of unjustified charges against us with evil words! And not being content with that, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but hinders the people who want to do so and throws them out of the church!
1:11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad has not seen God.
Worthy Demetrius
1:12 Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. We also testify to him, and you know that our testimony is true.
Conclusion
1:13 I have many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink.
1:14 But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face. Peace be with you. The friends here greet you. Greet the friends there by name.
Prayer
Lord, You have called us to love and to receive and support one-another, but to resist and to refuse any partnership with those who reject You. May I be confident in You, cautious about humankind, and in all things committed to the guidance of Your Word.
Summary & Commentary
“1:1 From the elder, to an elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth (and not I alone, but also all those who know the truth), 1:2 because of the truth that resides in us and will be with us forever. 1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, in truth and love.”
[Note: “Elect” here refers to one who has met the Lord God’s often-stated requirement of surrender to the Lordship of Christ and accepted His gift of salvation. The common English usage of “elect” may refer to one who has been met the legal requirements for office both under the law and the results of the ballot box and now awaits the proper moment to assume the responsibilities of that office. We also have met the Lord’s requirements and we also are heavens-elect in-waiting. There is considerable debate as to the identity of the “lady and her children”; this writer takes it to be yet another feminine pronoun applied to The Church (assembly of believers) with the children those whom they have received as new believers.]
“1:4 I rejoiced greatly because I have found some of your children living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded us.”
[Note: It is instructive that John referenced “... some of your children” as opposed to “... your children” or “... all of your children”. John was rejoicing for those who are “... living according to the truth” – the text does not tell us if he knew that some were not or was uncertain and wanted to be sure of the others.]
“1:5 But now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning), that we love one another. 1:6 (Now this is love: that we walk according to his commandments.) This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning; thus you should walk in it. 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist! 1:8 Watch out, so that you do not lose the things we have worked for, but receive a full reward.”
[Note: John wanted her (the local “Church” to be certain that her (their) lifestyle and faith are right before the Lord and that she (they) are (were) teaching the same to her children. We are assured elsewhere that in the latter days of the end times the deceivers will be so effective that they would deceive to the point of drawing people away to destruction “... even the very elect, were that possible” – so we know that those who are truly saved may lose only their blessings in this world and not their salvation. It is reasonable, however, to postulate that John was referring to her (the believers) desire that her entire family (the whole community) would be saved and if her (their) role model and teaching was defective - to that degree her (their) “... full reward” could be “lost.”]
“1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in this teaching has both the Father and the Son. 1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting, 1:11 because the person who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds.”
[Note: John repeated a common NT teaching that believers must never provide aid or comfort to one who teaches a false gospel.]
“1:12 Though I have many other things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come visit you and speak face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 1:13 The children of your elect sister greet you.”
[Note: John, still imprisoned on the Island of Patmos, sounded a great deal like the apostle Paul in his preference for in-person communication and in his faithful desire to one day receive the freedom to do so.]
3 John
“1:1 From the elder, to Gaius my dear brother, whom I love in truth. 1:2 Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. 1:3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, just as you are living according to the truth. 1:4 I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are living according to the truth.”
“1:5 Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers). 1:6 They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 1:7 For they have gone forth on behalf of “The Name,” accepting nothing from the pagans. 1:8 Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we become coworkers in cooperation with the truth.”
[Note: John was asking Gaius to provide some practical resources to “... the brothers”.]
“1:9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us. 1:10 Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing – the bringing of unjustified charges against us with evil words! And not being content with that, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but hinders the people who want to do so and throws them out of the church! 1:11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad has not seen God. 1:12 Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. We also testify to him, and you know that our testimony is true.”
[Note: Diotrephes’ oversized ego, and his unloving reaction to John (and those whom John addressed his letter), may cause a reader to interpret that Diotrephes was in eternal mortal jeopardy. He was, at least, facing some severe chastising from the Lord.]
“1:13 I have many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink. 1:14 But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face. (1:15) Peace be with you. The friends here greet you. Greet the friends there by name.”
Interaction
Consider
Merely because a person has heard the truth does not mean they will accept it, nor that once accepting it, that they will consistently obey it.
Discuss
Do we have practical ways to support those who travel on behalf of the Lord – those who lack sufficient means of support – without taking from the needs of the local fellowship?
Reflect
How do we deal with the problem of leaders who seem to desperately need constant attention?
Share
What are some examples of conflict, which involves gossip or unloving attitudes, and how was that resolved?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone in leadership for whom He wants to to pray because they are so desperate for attention that they push away others who have been sent by God to serve alongside them, they distort priorities and/or the Word of God to draw attention, and/or they ill-treat those who try to lovingly make them away of legitimate Biblical concerns.
Action:
Today I will pray in-earnest for the leader whom the Holy Spirit has directed me. I will make this a priority not only for the leader but for the harm that an unrestored right-relationship with the Lord God can do to many with whom he/she interacts in a role of authority.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
Saturday (Jude)
Salutation
1:1 From Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, wrapped in the love of God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.
1:2 May mercy, peace, and love be lavished on you!
Condemnation of the False Teachers
1:3 Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel compelled instead to write to encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
1:4 For certain men have secretly slipped in among you – men who long ago were marked out for the condemnation I am about to describe – ungodly men who have turned the grace of our God into a license for evil and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
1:5 Now I desire to remind you (even though you have been fully informed of these facts once for all) that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, later destroyed those who did not believe.
1:6 You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day.
1:7 So also Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns, since they indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire in a way similar to these angels, are now displayed as an example by suffering the punishment of eternal fire.
1:8 Yet these men, as a result of their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and insult the glorious ones.
1:9 But even when Michael the archangel was arguing with the devil and debating with him concerning Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a slanderous judgment, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”
1:10 But these men do not understand the things they slander, and they are being destroyed by the very things that, like irrational animals, they instinctively comprehend.
1:11 Woe to them! For they have traveled down Cain’s path, and because of greed have abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error; hence, they will certainly perish in Korah’s rebellion.
1:12 These men are dangerous reefs at your love feasts, feasting without reverence, feeding only themselves. They are waterless clouds, carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit – twice dead, uprooted; 1:13 wild sea waves, spewing out the foam of their shame; wayward stars for whom the utter depths of eternal darkness have been reserved.
1:14 Now Enoch, the seventh in descent beginning with Adam, even prophesied of them, saying, “Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy ones, 1:15 to execute judgment on all, and to convict every person of all their thoroughly ungodly deeds that they have committed, and of all the harsh words that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
1:16 These people are grumblers and fault-finders who go wherever their desires lead them, and they give bombastic speeches, enchanting folks for their own gain.
Exhortation to the Faithful
1:17 But you, dear friends – recall the predictions foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:18 For they said to you, “In the end time there will come scoffers, propelled by their own ungodly desires.”
1:19 These people are divisive, worldly, devoid of the Spirit.
1:20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit,
1:21 maintain yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life.
1:22 And have mercy on those who waver;
1:23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy on others, coupled with a fear of God, hating even the clothes stained by the flesh.
Final Blessing
1:24 Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence,
1:25 to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.
Prayer
Lord, You have warned us of the self-centered, self-worshiping, self-promoting people who will pretend to speak for You but who rather disrespect You and draw others into their sins. May I be alert to deceivers and frauds and bold to call them out according to the text of Jude and others in Your Word.
Summary & Commentary
“1:1 From Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, wrapped in the love of God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ. 1:2 May mercy, peace, and love be lavished on you!”
[Note: Jude chose phraseology that was very flamboyant; clearly, the joy of the Lord is right where it should have been, at the center of his heart. When he used the term “called” he referred to those who, like men qualified for military service, were “called” by the Lord God to salvation – not due to any works or individual righteousness (as we have read previously) – but because they, by faith, had surrendered to the Lordship of Christ.]
“1:3 Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel compelled instead to write to encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 1:4 For certain men have secretly slipped in among you – men who long ago were marked out for the condemnation I am about to describe – ungodly men who have turned the grace of our God into a license for evil and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
[Note: Jude affirmed their salvation as a way to remove it, as a concern, from the discussion.]
“1:5 Now I desire to remind you (even though you have been fully informed of these facts once for all) that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, later destroyed those who did not believe.”
[Note: Jude said it was Jesus who called Moses and caused the Jews be freed and punished those among the Egyptians and Jews who continued to rebel. The OT describes the One who did this as God – therefore this is another confirmation of the Trinity. Jude could have meant this as a rhetorical flourish, referring to the salvation provided by Jesus, but the text does not support that interpretation.]
“1:6 You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day.”
[Note: Jude was painting a word-picture of the battle in the spiritual realm and he was also reminding his readers of last days prophesy.]
“1:7 So also Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns, since they indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire in a way similar to these angels, are now displayed as an example by suffering the punishment of eternal fire.
[Note: The text of Jude does not require us to take the meaning that the conduct of the fallen angels was the same as that of the humans in Sodom and Gomorrah. Perhaps a better understanding of Jude’s texts is a parallel illustration; in this case the emphasis is on their wanton rebellion, rather then upon the specific form of their sin, while they were in the state of rebellion.]
“1:8 Yet these men, as a result of their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and insult the glorious ones.”
[Note: The phrase “... their dreams” refers to their selfish desires for importance, lust, and power.]
“1:9 But even when Michael the archangel was arguing with the devil and debating with him concerning Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a slanderous judgment, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”
[Note: The faithful angels knew their place and did not pretend to speak for the Lord God. Judgment and vengeance belongs to our Lord alone.]
“1:10 But these men do not understand the things they slander, and they are being destroyed by the very things that, like irrational animals, they instinctively comprehend. 1:11 Woe to them! For they have traveled down Cain’s path, and because of greed have abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error; hence, they will certainly perish in Korah’s rebellion. 1:12 These men are dangerous reefs at your love feasts, feasting without reverence, feeding only themselves. They are waterless clouds, carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit – twice dead, uprooted; 1:13 wild sea waves, spewing out the foam of their shame; wayward stars for whom the utter depths of eternal darkness have been reserved.”
[Note: Jude again painted a powerful portrait of the impact of sin run-wild, using examples from the OT with which his readers would have been familiar.]
“1:14 Now Enoch, the seventh in descent beginning with Adam, even prophesied of them, saying, “Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy ones, 1:15 to execute judgment on all, and to convict every person of all their thoroughly ungodly deeds that they have committed, and of all the harsh words that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 1:16 These people are grumblers and fault-finders who go wherever their desires lead them, and they give bombastic speeches, enchanting folks for their own gain.”
“1:17 But you, dear friends – recall the predictions foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1:18 For they said to you, “In the end time there will come scoffers, propelled by their own ungodly desires.” 1:19 These people are divisive, worldly, devoid of the Spirit.”
“ 1:20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit, 1:21 maintain yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life. 1:22 And have mercy on those who waver; 1:23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy on others, coupled with a fear of God, hating even the clothes stained by the flesh.”
[Note: Jude challenged the believers to reach out to the lost, while they were to avoid any participation in sin which might cause even their “... clothes (to be) stained by the flesh.”
“1:24 Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence, 1:25 to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen”
[Note: Jude’s benediction matched the rest of his writing – emotively powerful.]
Interaction
Consider
Do we have the energy of Jude – clearly one who is listening to the Holy Spirit?
Discuss
What are some practical ways to balance outreach to the lost while keeping oneself from sin?
Reflect
Jude’s observation was that it was Jesus who led Moses in leading His people into freedom from captivity in Egypt. Even if you take Jude to intend a rhetorical flourish, as to the reach of His saving work on the Cross and beyond, it is a powerful piece of text.
Share
What is an illustration of your understanding of the spiritual battle and the parallels between angelic and human rebellion?
Faith in Action
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a fellow believer who would be blessed to share with you the teaching of the book of Jude.
Action:
Today I will be as excited and expressive as Jude as I communicate the amazing blessings of the Lord God, and His warning to be cautious as to whose teaching to trust, to a fellow believer – as an encouragement to them, as a warning in-love, and as a shared act of celebration for me.
Be Specific ______________________________________________________
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study – “1, 2, 3 John, Jude” – prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in May of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
The New Testament (Canonical, 40 week)
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
This is a canonical study of the New Testament (minus the gospels, which can be found as a chronological study here). The text is grouped into seven daily sections, making it useful for a week-long study beginning on Sunday and continuing through the week. Coupled with the gospels study this is a 52 week tour through the whole New Testament that may be completed in one year. A similar 52 week tour of the Old Testament (chronological) is also available.
The Gospels (Chronological, 12 week)
A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections with a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
This is a chronological parallel study of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The text is grouped into seven daily sections, making it useful for a week-long study beginning on Sunday and continuing through the week. Coupled with the canonical New Testament study (which does not include the gospels) this is a 52 week tour through the whole New Testament that may be completed in one year. A similar 52 week tour of the Old Testament (chronological) is also available.
Each of the four Gospels is written to a different audience and intended to address a different element of the “good news” telling of the miraculous birth, life ministry, and sacrificial death of the Son of man Jesus. Our purpose is to identify both the unique and the key themes running concurrently and chronologically in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.