Learning from Paul

Apostates are dangerous to the Church because they distort the main message of the Church

Learning from Paul

Even though Paul was writing to one individual, who lived long ago and in an entirely different culture, this chapter has many important ideas that we can learn from today. The chapter has 3 sections which are different, yet related.

First, Paul warns Timothy that the Church will always have to deal with apostates. Timothy needs to be prepared and not taken by surprise. Apostates are dangerous to the life and function of the Church because they distort the main message of the Church, that Jesus is the only way to restore humankind’s relationship to God because He, Jesus, paid the price for our sins, so that we would not have to pay.

In the second section, Paul tells Timothy that not everything that others say is true or even important. Some talk by others is just nonsense and Timothy should ignore such conversations. Instead, Paul strongly reminds Timothy that what he needs to Teach others, and also practice himself, is the continual pursuit of godliness. Godliness refers to our view of God and how deeply we want to know Him better.

Because there is truth, some things are worth fighting for.

The last section of the chapter reminds Timothy that his primary role and task at the church in Ephesus is to teach God’s truth as he has heard Paul proclaim it. In this chapter, Paul has repeatedly emphasized to Timothy the supreme importance of publicly proclaiming God’s Truth.

For us today, there are lessons which we can learn from Paul:

  1. There is absolute truth.

  2. Because there is truth, some things are worth fighting for, or at least taking a stand against different ideas.

  3. Some silly ideas are best just ignored.

  4. God is more concerned about the status of our heart than our physical age.

  5. We are called to be firm in our understanding of the Faith and The doctrine as God lays them out.

{# }