27 Oct. A good soldier of Jesus Christ
"You then, Timothy, my child, be strong in the grace we have in Christ Jesus. You should teach people whom you can trust the things you and many others have heard me say. Then they will be able to teach others."
"Share in the troubles we have like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. A soldier wants to please the enlisting officer, so no one serving in the army wastes time on everyday matters."
"Also an athlete who takes part in a contest must obey all the rules in order to win. The farmer who works hard should be the first person to get some of the food that was grown. Think about what I am saying, because the Lord will give you the ability to understand everything."
"Remember Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead, who is from the family of David. This is the Good News I preach, and I am suffering because of it to the point of being bound with chains like a criminal."
"But God's teaching is not in chains, So I patiently accept all these troubles so that those whom God has chosen can have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. With that salvation comes glory that never ends..."
"Stay away from foolish, useless talk because that will lead people further away from God. Their evil teaching will spread like a sickness inside the body. Hymenaeus and Philetus are like that. They have left the true teaching, saying that the rising from the dead has already taken place, and so they are destroying the faith of some people..."
"But run away from the evil young people like to do. Try hard to live right and to have faith, love and peace, together with those who trust in the Lord from pure hearts. Stay away from foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they grow into quarrels. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, a good teacher and patient."
"The Lord's servant must gently teach those who disagree. Then maybe God will let them change their minds so they can accept the truth. And they may wake up and escape from the trap of the devil [Greek 'diabolos' - one who tells lies], who catches them to do what he wants."
(2 Timothy 2:1-26)
Paul urges Timothy to be a faithful soldier for Jesus Christ and not to be sidetracked by the hustle and bustle of daily life. He encourages him to concentrate on the task in hand – just as an athlete concentrates on winning a race.
Paul says he is now chained like a criminal for preaching the Good News about Jesus. But the word of God is not in chains – so he continues to preach salvation and eternal glory through Jesus Christ.
Paul encourages Timothy to preach God’s truth to the church in Ephesus. He is advised not to argue with those – like Hymenaeus and Philetus – who are teaching that the resurrection of the dead on the ‘Day of the Lord’ has already taken place.
He should “run away from the evil young people like to do” (2 Timothy 2:22) and keep away from foolish and ignorant arguments.
The photo shows the steps leading down into the Mamertine prison in Rome, where Paul was held before his execution.
You can read more from Paul's Second Letter to Timothy @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/pauls-2nd-letter-to-timo…/