2 TImothy 1:1-14 Questions 10-11 and QC

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Outline: 2 Ti 1:1-18

v.1-2      Introduction of letter.

Paul the author gives his identity and the identity of Timothy his recipient.

v.2-14    A call to guard the Gospel

v.3-7.     Personal comments about Paul’s affection for Timothy and Timothy’s family faith. Paul then moves on to his and Timothy’s shared experience when he prayed for Timothy to take up his ministry. Encouragement for Timothy to use his gift well.

v.8-9a    In the light of Timothy’s heritage of faith and gifting, Paul asks Timothy to share in his suffering for the gospel in the power of God .

v.9-12    is a brief statement of the truths of the gospel that Paul was appointed to preach and for which he is suffering.

v.12a-14 Paul’s statement of confidence that God will ultimately guard the gospel and a charge to Timothy to do likewise in God’s power.

v.15-18 Examples of unfaithfulness and faithfulness.

“All in Asia”, including Phygelus and Hermogenes” turned away from Paul, but Onesiphorus was sincere in his concern and service for Paul.

 


 


I thought we should also discuss Pope Francis' recent declaration that "what we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered" "Gay people are children of God". "Homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family. They're children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out, or be made miserable because of it"He has previously supported legal rights and health-care benefits for same-sex partners. In a famous comment, he has said. "If the person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?"

Francis' stand is in contrast to official teaching of the Catholic Church (.e.g The Church teaches that "respect for homosexual persons cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual behaviour or to legal recognition of homosexual unions" 2003, under Pope Benedict XVI)

 I think there are different issues involved - at least, these:
1. The right of all humans, homosexuals included, to receive basic human rights. I think this should be quite clear.

2. The legality of homosexuality and the legality of same-sex unions. The issue is brought into focus into the debate on Section 377/377A in the Singapore Penal Code. As long as these sections exist, same-sex unions cannot be permissible. But I think this issue is less clear because Singapore is a secular nation and civil laws will reflect the morality and preferences of the electorate. I adopt the stance that I support any civil law that reflects Scriptural principles.

3. The open receiving of practicing homosexuals into the church family. Francis is probably speaking of the family of God rather than biological families of homosexuals. The heart of the debate would be the question: "Is homosexuality a sin?" This issue becomes clearer again. It is necessary to distinguish those with a homosexual orientation from those who practice homosexuality. The accepting of the openly homosexual would constitute an attitude of regarding homosexual practice as being not sinful. The church of God, while comprising sinful people and accepting them, must not tolerate unrepented open sin. The Singapore Diocese says, "“What is legal in society is not necessarily moral or licit for Catholics in the teaching of the Church,”

 4. The characterization of homosexuals as "children of God" needs some clarity. God in the sense that He is Creator is truly "Father" to all, and He loves all he has made in a general sense. But He does not love all individual humans in equal measure. D. A. Carson's short (and free) ebook "The difficult doctrine of the love of God" is an excellent way of clarifying this topic.

 

Just a reminder that the song we sang comes from the Heidelberg Catechism of 1563 -barely 50 years after the start of the Protestant Reformation.

Q.  What is your only comfort in life and death?


A:

That I am not my own, 1
but belong with body and soul,
both in life and in death, 2
to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. 3
He has fully paid for all my sins
with his precious blood, 4
and has set me free
from all the power of the devil. 5
He also preserves me in such a way 6
that without the will of my heavenly Father
not a hair can fall from my head; 7
indeed, all things must work together
for my salvation. 8
Therefore, by his Holy Spirit
he also assures me
of eternal life 9
and makes me heartily willing and ready
from now on to live for him. 10

 


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