Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing.2 Timothy 2:7-8.
Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel.
Dear Pilgrims and Sojourners,
Often we are taught things that provoke questions in our minds. Paul is aware that not everything he has told Timothy so far is necessarily clear. Clarity is crucial if we are to own what we proclaim to others, so Paul encourages
Reflection (v. 7). When one thinks through anything, one is likely to find flaws or things one disagrees with. Paul is confident enough in what he teaches, to encourage Timothy to scrutinize it. It is through this scrutiny that the Lord enables us to understand. Critical thinking is not an enemy of the gospel. It is the path to clarity.
Recollection (v. 8). The gospel that Paul preaches is personalized so that Paul calls it “my gospel.” This is not to distinguish it from that preached by the other apostles because they preached the same gospel, but to distinguish it rather from that preached by false teachers. This gospel has several key elements. Paul mentions two here. Resurrection. That Christ rose from the dead is at the heart of the gospel. It is the resurrection that vindicates the claims of Christ. It also is the reason for those who believe to hope in their own resurrection. Roots. Christ is a descendant of David. This is important because the Messiah (which is who Jesus is, and this is what Christ means) was to be descended from David. This means that Timothy, and we, by extension, can freely apply all the prophecies and teachings of the Old Testament concerning the Messiah to Jesus. What a joy to know that our faith is anchored in the prophecies of the Old Testament!
Your Loving Pastor Chris.