As the apostle Paul ends his letter to the young pastor, Timothy, Paul encouraged Timothy to remind Christian slaves/employees that they are to work to the best of their abilities for their masters, so the name of God and of the Christian teachings are not maligned. He warned Timothy to beware of the love of money. 6:6, "But godliness with contentment is great gain." As Christians, our hope and security is not found in wealth or money, but in Jesus Christ. Paul charged Timothy to flee evil and pursue "godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." He is to fight, take hold, and keep the command until Christ Jesus comes again in all his glory. God the Father has a specific time in mind. Timothy was to command the rich to be generous with the gifts God gave them so they will not be led astray from wealth's deception, and take a hold of Jesus the one that is true life. Paul continued Timothy to stay faithful, and not turn down the way of the false teachers with their so-called "knowledge." Paul blessed Timothy with God's grace.

In this chapter the apostle Paul is advising young Timothy about issues within the church, one of which was dealing with who are legitimate widows for the church to take care of, and issues dealing with the leadership of the church. If a widow has a family member still living, it is the responsibility for Christians to take care of their families, and not to have that as the church's responsibility. 5:8, "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." As for the elders, the church was responsible to make sure their pastor was taken care of, since he works for them. Paul also placed guidelines incase the elders were being accused of sin. Paul encouraged Timothy to not show favoritism, and to not be quick about electing elders, but make sure they are godly men. He also told Timothy in verse 23, "Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses." I just wonder if those elders were giving Timothy ulcers!

The apostle Paul instructs Timothy to understand that people will fall away from the church and follow leaders who are "hypocritical liars," who try and control them about marriage and eating restrictions, but Paul reminded Timothy that everything God created is good, and all foods are allowed if received with thanksgiving. Paul encouraged Timothy to continue to train to be godly. It takes effort, and our belief system effects every aspect of our lives. "Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." Our hope is found in the living God and Jesus who is our Savior, so Paul told Timothy to not neglect his gift and calling, for it benefits not just himself, but those his life touches.

In this chapter, Paul taught Timothy how to qualify men to be Overseers/Elders to the church. He is to be a godly man of respect who manages his own home well, because if he can not do that, he would not be able to manage God's family well. S. M. Baugh explained this position "as a guardian' of the welfare of the Christian churches under his care." The next section deals with deacons, and depending upon your interpretation, deaconesses. They are also to be people of respect, temperate and trustworthy. Paul wrote this so, "you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth" (vs. 15). Paul ended with a Greek Christian Hymn which shows "the mystery of godliness" which shows the incarnation of Christ, the resurrection of Christ, the ascension of Christ, the preaching of Christ to the nations, people's response to Christ, and then Christ's final victory.

In Paul's letter to Timothy, he stressed the importance of prayer, especially for those in authority, "so that, we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." This is a passage that as Peter said in 2 Peter 3:16, "HIs letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction." What is clear is that women (and men) can pray and learn in the worship service, and we are not to dress in a showy manner, instead we are to be clothed in godliness and good works. We also know through all of Paul's other writings that women (and men) are saved by faith in Christ Jesus, and it is because of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection that He paid the ransom for our sins. Jesus was our mediator for both men and women. We also know that Adam was not deceived, which means he knew what he was doing when he ate of the fruit of the tree, which is why Paul said in Romans 5:12, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all me, because all sinned," and thankfully it is through Eve's "Seed," her offspring, that Jesus was born through the virgin birth of Mary who brought salvation, and those who truly believe continue to grow in faith, love, holiness, with a sound mind.

Traditionally, it is believed Paul the Apostle wrote this letter to Timothy after he was released from house arrest in Rome around AD 63. Paul was in Macedonia, and he wrote to encourage Timothy to stay in Ephesus so he could stand up against false teachings. Verse 5 says, "The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." These false teachers were trying to teach the law, but they did not know it, and Paul explained that the law is good if it is used properly, but the main reason for the law is to reveal our sinfulness. Then Paul gave thanks that the Lord was merciful to him because he used to be a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent man, but God's grace was poured out on him, and he is no longer that way. Then Paul said that if God's mercy can be poured out like that on my life who was the "worst of sinners," then God's grace and mercy can be pour out on anyone's life. This chapter ends with Paul encouraging Timothy, his son in the faith, to be faithful and fight the good fight, "holding on to faith and a good conscience." The unfaithful men, Hymenaeus and Alexander have shipwrecked lives as long as they are not walking in the truth.

This section of Acts is about Paul's missionary journeys into Gentile lands. The church in Antioch, Syria, sent Paul and Barnabas off to share the good news of Jesus Christ. They sailed to the island of Cyprus, and once they covered the area, they sailed to the western part of what is now modern-day Turkey. They then backtracked so they could place leadership in each of the churches they started. They headed back to their home church and shared the amazing things which the Lord had done. Then in chapter 15 was the "Council of Jerusalem," where the church in Jerusalem concluded that a Gentile does not need to become a Jew in order to be saved. Then Paul went on his second trip, and this time with Silas. Barnabas took John Mark to the island of Cyprus again, and Paul and Silas traveled around the Mediterranean Sea into Turkey. Paul had hope to go east and cover more of Turkey, but he saw a vision of a man calling him to Macedonia, so they headed west around the Aegean Sea into modern-day Greece. At the end of this trip, Paul stopped off at "the church" in Jerusalem, and then went back to Antioch. Paul's went back to the churches that he started on his third trip, and this time he collected an offering from the Gentile churches to take the the church at Jerusalem. Everywhere Paul went, they would start sharing the good news of Jesus to the Jews. Some accepted Jesus as the Messiah, and others did not. When some Jews heard Paul was taking the message to the Gentiles, they persecuted him. After bringing the offering to the church in Jerusalem, some Jews there caused an uproar against Paul, and he was arrested. Since there was a threat on his life, the Roman leadership took him to Caesarea for two years. He gave his testimony before Governor Felix, Governor Festus, and King Agrippa, but because he appealed to Caesar (25:11), he was not released, but sent to Rome. The book of Acts ends with Paul in house arrest at Rome, still willing to share boldly about Jesus Christ to all who would listen. He stayed there for two years.  

Acts is a continuation of the Life of Jesus, but not in bodily form, but in the form of His Spirit working through believers in Christ. The Key verse for the book is Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." These chapters show how the church first grew in Jerusalem starting when the gift from God, the Holy Spirit into believers at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit empowered the Apostles to do miracles, which brought fame, and then persecution from the Jewish religious leaders. Peter and John were brought before some of the leaders, and Peter declared the crippled beggar was healed by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. They were released, but warned to no longer speak in this name. That did not stop them though. The church continued to grow, and seven "deacons" were selected to help serve the people, so the apostles could focus on prayer and the word. One of those men, Stephen, became the first Christian martyr in Jerusalem. 8:1 tells us, "And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day, a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria." Philip was one who went to Samaria and shared the gospel, and the Lord also took him to speak to an Ethiopian eunuch who believed, was baptized, and went home with the gospel. In chapter 9, Saul, who persecuted the church, had an encounter with the ascended Lord Jesus, and after Ananias went to him because of the Lord, Paul believed, was healed and baptized, and began to proclaim the name of Jesus. God also moved through Peter to bring the good news of Jesus to the Gentile centurion, Cornelius and his home. They believed, and the Holy Spirit came upon them, like Pentecost. Peter realized, "It is true that God does not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right" (10:34-35). Peter explained it to the church at Jerusalem. The church in Antioch grew, and it was there believers were first called Christians (11:26). In chapter 12, John's brother, James was killed by King Herod, who then arrested Peter, but the Lord rescued him, and the word of God continued to increase and spread (12:24).

Luke starts off telling the story of Elizabeth's barrenness and how God did a miracle in their lives, after all these years, they will have a son, John the Baptizer. Then we read about Mary's encounter with an angel of the Lord, and that she too will bear a child, who will be the Son of God. Mary quickly went to Elizabeth, her relative's house, and seeing the miracle in Elizabeth's life helped to encourage Mary in her faith. Some stories that are unique to Luke was "the woman who lived a sinful lifestyle," but because of her faith and anointing Jesus out of love, her sin was forgiven (7:37-50). Luke also shared about the time that Jesus and his disciples came to Martha's house (10:41), and Jesus told her to leave Mary alone, and reminded Martha about her worry about many things. Only in Luke do we read about the parable of the woman who had 10 coins, but lost one. Only in Luke do we have  Jesus telling the mourning women, "Do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves." In Luke the women watched Jesus' death from afar. They followed Joseph of Arimathea when he took Jesus' body and buried it, and they watched where He was laid. It was the woman who prepared spices for burial, and it was the women who went early Sunday morning to anoint Him, but He was not there. It was the women who first announced that Jesus was alive, and that was largely do to their obedience and love for the Lord. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it," both women and men alike.

Luke wrote this gospel for the "most excellent Theophilus," so he could know for certain what he had been taught was true. Luke started with the birth of John the Baptist and then the birth of Jesus, and he made it clear it was an act of God through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was present with Jesus during His baptism and his temptation, and He came through "in the power of the Holy Spirit," (4:14). During Jesus' ministry, prayer was essential, and often Jesus went off to pray (5:16, 6:12, 9:18, 9:28). He taught His disciples to pray and not give up (18:1-14). In 19:46, He called "My house shall be a house of prayer." Jesus prayed for Simon Peter (22:31). He prayed "more earnestly" when on the Mount of Olives, and he told his disciples twice to "Pray that you will not fall into temptation," (22:40 & 46). Dr. Alan B. Stringfellow pointed out that in Luke's telling of Jesus on the cross, His first and last words were prayers, and then Jesus' last recorded words to his disciples said (24:49), "I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." What did the Father promise to send? Who did the Father promise to send after Jesus left them?       The Holy Spirit.