Queen's Road Cell

8. How would you summarize 4:1-8? See the "as for you" (v.5) vs. "For I" (v.6). This suggests a transition . We could say, "Preach the word as I have preached the word" "Keep the faith as I have kept the faith"  "I'm done. Please carry on" “Paul is passing on the baton to Timothy”  9. Which reasons in 4:1-8 most motivate you to serve with joy and endurance? There is an end-point for all of us, and a reward at the end.  Paul had alluded to this in Ac 20:24 (" B ut I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course(= race) and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. ".) Now the course is finished. His life's purpose is accomplished. The reward is 3 times describ ed as a 'crown' in Scripture:   A crown of righteousness (v.8)   A crown of life (Js 1:12) A crown of glory (1 Pet 5:4)   This is likely a reference to th...

6. Paul compares his Christian life to a fight and a race. What similarities do you see among these? We were divided on how to interpret this question! Some (like me) saw this as needing to compare a fight and a race with each other, whereas some saw this as asking us to see how the Christian life is separately like a fight, and also like a race . My answer was There is competition. There are opponents in both. We know that we have external enemies (the world and Satan) and also internal struggles against the flesh (1 Pet 2:11) We need to both attack and defend with the armour of God (Eph 6:11-13) ( Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it, 1 Cor 9:24). There is compulsion - a certain force to push against one's limits in order to achieve victory. We said that in both there is an element of struggle rather than comfort. We may be tempted to give up half-way. In both we need endurance against pain. (There...

  3. In 4:1, Paul gives an incentive for these exhortations (4:2,5). How is this verse an incentive?  The exhortation is to keep God in mind - His reality and presence, our accountability to Him and His coming. In is in the light of this that all other exhortations become meaningful. 4. Why must Timothy preach patiently and sometimes reprovingly (4:2-4)? "With complete patience" implies that people will be slow to respond they way they should. "Reprove, rebuke and exhort" implies that they will incline to do wrong instead of right. In particular, because ("For" v.3) people: will not endure sound teaching, since the truth of God is often difficult for humans to accept (e,g, the doctrine of original sin, the sovereignty of God) and because that truth calls us to change our behaviour. but will have itching ears,  desiring new stimulus (cf. 3:7). We scratch itches, but the itch often returns. and so accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own pass...

1. How does 4:1-8 relate to what Paul has been saying in chapters 1-3?    See the solemn way Paul introduces the charge to Timothy: " In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom" (v.1). cf. 1 Tim 5:21: " In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality." Paul is saying to Timothy. "You must do this" If we could compel obedience from someone - to have it so that our wishes were fulfilled by that person, what would we ask? For Paul, it was all about the gospel. What is the meaning of the charge? "in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus" - the ultimate witness, not man. It is a righteous request. "who is to judge the living and the dead" - the ultimate judge of Timothy's actions and worth. It  alludes to the supreme authority of the One before whom ...

9. a. Paul lists 5 ways in which "God-breathed" Scripture is useful to us (3:15-16). Explain each in your own words. giving "wisdom that leads us to salvation" - this is to teach us truth about why we need to be saved and how were are to be saved. It leads us to faith in Christ to justify, sanctify and glorify us. teaching - to tell us positive spiritual truth/doctrine. It guides and educates us about the character and requirements of God. rebuking - to test or convict us of negative spiritual error (c.f. Heb 11:1 'conviction'). Scripture correcting - (found only here in the NT) to stop us from sin and to restore us to a right state. training in righteousness - to lead us to godly behaviour. This is also a summary statement of how we become Christlike. b. What is the ultimate goal of using Scripture for these purposes? (3:17) " that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." The phrase "man of God" has a technical me...

"and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (v.15). How does Scripture help us toward being saved?  Both OT and NT comprise 'special revelation'. They contain the truths about God's redemption that are used by the Holy Spirit to save an individual. "Special revelation is rooted in the redemptive plan of God, is addressed to man as sinner, can be properly understood and appropriated only by faith, and serves the purpose of securing the end for which man was created in spite of the disturbance wrought by sin.  In view of the eternal plan of redemption it should be said that this  special revelation did not come in as an after-thought, but was in the mind of God from the very beginning...It is a knowledge that is not rationally demonstrable but must be accepted by faith." (Berkhof) In contrast, 'general revelation' is a "revelation of t...

From 2 Timothy, would you say that Paul put his own teaching on level with Old Testament Scripture? Why or why not? 1:11.  for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 1:13-14.  Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14  By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. 2:2. and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3:10, You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 3:14, But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 3:16, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.   Our answer is "yes". Because:  Paul sees himself as an 'apostle...