Deep Dive
As I was studying through Galatians, I learned a “how to study the Bible” lesson from the Apostle Paul, and he wasn’t even trying to teach that lesson.
I saw that when he studied his Bible (it would have been just the Old Testament at that time!) he didn’t just read through it devotionally, picking out the things he could apply to his life. He looked for doctrine. He saw places that the Old Testament talks about Christ that the average person wouldn’t pick up on. He read and studied his Bible deeply.
Briefly, here’s what I’m talking about: In Gal. 3, Paul is talking about the Old Testament law vs. faith, highlighting Genesis with Abraham (he believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.) He says in Gal. 3:13, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written ‘Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.’” (He’s quoting from Deut. 21:23.) But here’s the verse that taught me the lesson: (verse 16) “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, ‘And to seeds’ as of many; but as of one. ‘And to thy seed,’ which is Christ.”
I sat back and thought, “wow!” Paul read Gen. 13:15 and noticed there wasn’t an “s” on the end of “seed” and concluded it was talking about Christ. Had there been an “s” on the end of “seed,” the verse would have meant something entirely different. (Perhaps the word “seeds” would have meant that the promise was for Abraham and his descendents.) Paul concluded that Gen. 13:15 looks forward to Christ.
Do I read and study the Bible so intently that the very letters (an “s” or no “s”) grab my attention and teach me deep doctrinal truths?
I did due diligence, and I went back to Gen. 13:15 to see if the Bible really does say “seed” and not “seeds.” Yes, it does.
By the way, I read the King James version, antiquated as some may think, because I’ve been taught that it is the most accurate translation. So I wondered how NIV and NASV read in Gen. 13:15. Do they also say “seed” with no “s”?
Nope. NASV says “descendants” and NIV says “offspring.” Anyone have any thoughts on that? I think those two renditions make Paul sound like an idiot in Galatians. -- To my point, it’s important to study the Bible, not just read it. The words are important, not just the general idea (so go for the most accurate translation, not simply the easiest to read). Paul looked at words, and I’m sure that’s what he taught Timothy when he said, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15)
Crowns and Prizes
If I knew I only had a few weeks to live, decorating my house and staying up with my favorite TV programs probably wouldn't register on my priority radar again.
The apostle Paul came to a point when he knew he didn't have long to live. I read his last writing, 2 Timothy, with curiosity as to what he now thought was most important. There it is, in the last chapter of this final letter to his young disciple, Timothy.
Before I quote it, I find it interesting that his razor-sharp end-of-life focus was the same one he carried throughout his Christian life. It's a godly person who doesn't need to adjust a thing upon realizing he/she isn't long to this life.
He said: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Tim. 4:7-8)
He worked for a reward, a crown. He saw it years earlier, and aimed for it for the rest of his life.
I know he worked for a future reward for many years, because Paul said in Philippians (written about six years before 2 Timothy): "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:14)
I'm thinking that if Paul was so focused on the prize/crown, maybe I should look further into it. You can too. If you'd like to use some of your daily quiet time to look into this, go over to the right, where it says "Quiet Time Ideas" and look at the first item listed. It gives some verses to look up and some questions to answer.
A "Truthful" Thought
I’m reading 2 Timothy in my daily time with God. It’s a book of practicalities, where Paul told Timothy how he (and thus we) are to live, think and act. In chapter 2 verses 19-26, Paul discusses practical righteousness, giving the foundation and the “how to” of it. He sums it up in vs. 25-26: “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
The truth is the all-important element that we use to guide our lives and that we try to communicate to others. It’s what Paul dedicated his life to. He was passing that goal on to Timothy. I think it’s interesting that in the same breath that he talked about getting others to acknowledge the truth, he talked about delivering them from the snare of the devil. It makes sense, because, as you know, there’s no truth in Satan. Everything he speaks is a lie, because he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).
I remember 15 to 20 years ago hearing how our next big battle in Christianity was going to be the philosophy that there’s no absolute truth. You wouldn’t be able to say that anything was true for sure. Truth would all be relative… whatever you think is true is what truth is for you.
I thought that was absurd. Thinking, rational people know there is absolute truth. But look now. You’re considered ridiculous if you try to pursuade someone that something in particular is the unqualified truth for everyone, no matter what. We decide for ourselves what is truth now. Even churches. I’ve passed a church that coaxed people in with a sign out front that said “no dogmatism here.” Even parents. Many say they are letting their children decide for themselves what to believe.
Satan has sucked truth out of our culture. So, standing for the truth is unpopular. How do we do it? “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
Jody