2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
While researching this morning's passage I came across a website authored by Peter Kirby. Earlychristianwritings.com is an interesting resource that lays out a straight-forward historically academic view on the writings of early Christianity. If you have the time I invite you to read some of his stuff.
Because I didn't know who Peter Kirby is I did a little research and found out that he grew up with a Christian background. He met and came to know many people in his life who both shared and showed a passion for their views on Christianity. However, Kirby found himself disillusioned by the Christ he learned about, and the Christ he witnessed. This disillusionment led him to become a devout Atheist.
He then set out to debunk every piece of scripture and early Christian writing by plowing head-first into the historical academia of those writings. What he found along this journey is that the answers to his questions about just who or what Christ is didn't come from those teachers and sages, rather the answers came from his being allowed to ask the questions as presented to him through those same writings he was trying to debunk.
In his being able to ask the questions and understand the truths as they relate to his life and his journey, Kirby has now found a path towards God's love through the teachings of Jesus Christ. He now devotes his life to helping others understand that the truth about God is indeed in the writings of scripture and the early writings of Christianity. He also points out that the answers will be different to each one of us as we allow ourselves to ask the questions and live the journey.
It is the journey, not the answer, which is most important.
On Kirby's website he has a page devoted to 2 Timothy. On it he notes some literary differences between what we know about the writings of Paul and the writings of 2nd century Christianity. He even points out that the writings of the Pastoral Epistles vary differently from the rest of the New Testament. It's interesting read, and not very long. It helped bring me a better understanding of, and a deeper commitment to, the Pastorals.
2 Timothy has many great messages, one of which we find in today's passage about being true to what we are taught and to remain faithful to whom we learn from. Of course, the latter part of that sentence is meant to mean Paul. The first part of that statement is meant to remind us we have scripture that is inspired by God.
Whether that scripture was written by Paul or not, whether that scripture was written in 60 CE or 160 CE doesn't matter. What does matter is that the scripture we read is inspired by God and placed in the Bible for a reason. What that reason is remains to be discovered by you as a part of your living relationship with God through Christ with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Don't let others tell you what to think. Don't let others tell you how to react. Don't let others tell you what to say. As it says in today's passage, those people may have their own agenda and will teach others in such a way as to suit their personal needs.
Instead, search your heart and ask yourself if what is being said reflects God's ultimate vision of one people living under one love. This is, after all, Paul's teaching of God's vision through his understanding of Christ's life, death, and resurrection. Then, after seeking the answers through scripture, conversation, other's writings and thoughts, ask yourself if what you are being confronted with is truly, honestly, deeply the will of God.
2 Timothy also reminds us that the truth will not be easy for us. People will oppose us and oppose us strongly. It's in these times we need to remain faithful to God's vision of unity through love and not the vision of division through hate that we might be asked to accept.
The choice is yours, it's always been so. Those who tell you differently aren't telling you the truth. The hope is that your choice will be love, equality, justice, unity, and a deep care for this earth and all that's created.
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