2 Timothy 2 Study/ Psalm 53 (54) Study/ Message from John 12:3-8- Free Will & Choices...

2 TIMOTHY 2 STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN

TRANSMITTING THE FAITH – (2Timothy 2:1-2)

2 Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. 2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.

NOTES

2:2: PAUL ESTABLISHES a clear chain of witnesses to oral tradition… Christian tradition is for all believers; it is “catholic”, belonging to the whole Church, and needs to be passed down to others unhindered… This stands in clear contrast to the elitism of the major religions of the first -century Roman world, including Gnosticism and the various mystery religions…

STRENGHTENING OTHERS: DISCIPLINE AND SUFFERING – (2Timothy 2:3-13)

3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. 5 And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. 6 And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. 7 Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.

8 Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. 9 And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. 10 So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.

11 This is a trustworthy saying:

If we die with him, we will also live with him. 12 If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. 13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

NOTES

2:3-6: FAITHFUL MINISTRY requires discipline: obedience, self-denial, and struggle… Our icons – (EXAMPLES) here are the SOLDIER – (vv. 3, 4), the athlete – (v. 5), and the FARMER – (v. 6) …

2:8-13: VERSES 11-13 may be an early baptismal hymn… Ministry is based on union with Christ and immovable loyalty to Him… The End, for the minister and his hearers, is life with Christ in the eternal Kingdom …

APOSTOLIC TEACHING VS … ERROR – (2Timothy 2:14-19)

14 Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them. 15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. 17 This kind of talk spreads like cancer,[a] as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. 18 They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.

19 But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”[b] and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”[c]

NOTES

2:15: THE LAST PHRASE of this verse is quoted in an Orthodox liturgical prayer for the bishops …

2:16: PROFANE AND IDLE BABBLINGS – (like nonsense syllables) is an apt description of heresy …

2:17-18: WHAT IS THE HERESY OF HYMENAEUS AND PHILETUS??? Perhaps a super -spiritual interpretation of THE RESURRECTION – (v. 18) as affecting only the soul and not the whole person – (Greek philosophy thought bodily resurrection absurd) so resurrection is a thought to be ALREADY PAST, having occurred at baptism … They use the language of baptism but in a non- Orthodox way … Let us not be naïve: This sort of doctrine can spread through a community LIKE CANCER – (v. 17) …

APOSTOLIC CONDUCT VS … ERROR (2Timothy 2:20-26)

20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

23 Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

NOTES

2:20-23: HERESY CORRUPTS: Bad theology leads to bad behaviors: The Church on earth is a mixture of wheat and tares are sown together – (vv. 19-21) … Membership in the Church guarantees nothing – even the baptismal confession – (quoted in v. 19) acknowledges the necessity of struggle …

2:24-26: GOOD THEOLOGY helps us to travel a path that eventually leads us to good behaviors … The truth stands firm and unalterable and cannot tolerate the false – (1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18), it instills a reasonable patience and gentleness toward all, especially toward false teachers – while not losing the sight of the fact that they are enemies and to be avoided … (2Timothy 3:5) …

PSALM 52 (53) STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN

PSALM 52 (53) – is a prophecy concerning the betrayal of Christ … For just as the Ziphites betrayed David – (see 1Kingdoms 23:15-21), so also Judas and the Jewish leaders betrayed Christ … These leaders are called STRANGERS AND THE POWERFUL – (v. 5) … Nevertheless, Christ’s sufferings and sacrifice on the cross were VOLUNTARY – (v. 8), for no one could take His life from Him without His content (see also John 10:18; John 18:6) … And He thanked the Father – (O LORD, v. 8) for His Resurrection – (v. 9), to teach us to do the same … PSALM 52 (53)- is also prayed daily at the Sixth Hour Prayer which is 12 NOON!!!

CLOSING

“FREE WILL WE CAN EITHER CHOSE TO FOLLOW CHRIST, AND LIVE THE WAY OF LIGHT … OR YOU CAN CHOSE THE WAY OF THE DARK, THE WAY OF BETRAYAL JUST LIKE JUDAS … IS THERE REALLY ROOM OF IGNORANCE OR LIKE STATED WE HAVE FREE WILL TO CHOSE OUR PATHS …

JOHN 12:3-8

3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar[a] of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages.[b] It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

7 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

- The other disciples said the same thing JUDAS said (v .5), but with a very different motive – (see Matthew 26:6-13 and my notes posted to my page …) Judas was speaking from greed, while the others were speaking from the aspects of virtue and charity … Jesus put A THIEF in charge of the money it showing us that by every means even Jesus Himself was trying to save Judas: He fulfilled Judas’ lust for money; He allowed Judas to also exercise apostolic authority – ( see also John 6:11, see also Mark 6:7); He also washed Judas’ feet with the other disciples – (John 13:5); and he allowed him to partake at the table of the Mystical Supper – (John 13:26) … Yet Judas was unable to overcome his lust for greed – (see also and my notes – Matthew 24:14-16) …