The original purpose of the book of Hebrews was to demonstrate the supremacy of Christ in all things for 1st century Jewish converts to Christianity. The book is filled with quotations from the Hebrew Scriptures all of which point to the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who “upholds all things by the word of His power,” (Hebrews 1.2b, 3b). 

Paul wrote to his close brother in Christ, Philemon, to appeal for leniency on behalf of a runaway slave. Onesimus became a follower of Jesus under the ministry of Paul and the two became such close friends that Paul referred to Onesimus as “my very heart,” (Philemon 12-13a). With great personal anguish, Paul determined to send Onesimus back to Philemon. In so doing, Paul voluntarily broke his own heart to facilitate a reconciliation between two brothers of opposing social strata. 

“Concerning these things”…

… of these things I am commanded to put my foot down and stand firm, to stress and affirm their importance, to insist strenuously, and communicate with absolute confidence. Before I can stand I must place each foot on the ground. Before I can take a stand, I must put my foot down. As for me and my foot,we will take our stand on Christ.

“I want you to put your foot down. Take a firm stand on these matters so that those who have put their trust in God will concentrate on the essentials that are good for everyone," (Titus 3.8 “The Message”).

I know what I believe and am convicted by its truth. About this truth, I am commanded to speak with authority and become impossible to ignore.

“These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you,” (Titus 2.15).

What is purity? Purity happens when profession and performance match up. A person consistent in word and action is pure, without inner conflict. He says what he believes and acts accordingly. A pure man is transparent, authentic, real, and fully disclosed. With the pure, what you see is what you get.

“To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him,…” (Titus 1.15-16). 

This podcast is an overview of week 41 in the Word Traveler Bible reading plan and covers the following chapters in the Old and New Testaments: Isaiah 51 – 66; Jeremiah 1 – 2; Titus 1 – 3; Philemon; Hebrews 1.

By the time Timothy received read his mentor’s request, “do your best to come to me quickly” (2nd Timothy 4.9), it might have been too late. Paul may have died as he predicted: “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure,” (2nd Timothy 4.6). 

Why did Paul call for Timothy? That is the question for today's podcast. 

“There’s nothing like the written word of God,” (2nd Timothy 3.15 The Message). How true! The Bible can “give you the wisdom that leads to salvation” and secure an eternity for you in heaven with Jesus. It’s a treasure. It’s pure gold. It’s the most precious thing in the universe. Nothing compares to Scripture. Absolutely nothing! It’s spiritual food for a starving man. It’s living water for a parched soul. I could not survive without the Bible.

I can’t bluff God and His approval isn’t cheap. My salvation was a free gift paid for by Jesus. But my development, growth, maturity, and sanctification must be earned by diligent application of Bible truths.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth,” (2nd Timothy 2.15). 

According to the McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia, (“Onesiphorus”, John McClintock and James Strong, Harper and Brothers, New York, 1867-1887), Paul was “in custody of a soldier, to whose arm his own was chained.” Who was the real captive? The apostle or his military audience of one? Can you imagine the conversations between Paul and the guard to whom he was chained? Paul and Onesiphorus may have planned their visitation schedule around a strategic plan for the evangelization of the soldiers who pulled ‘chain duty’ with Paul.

Onesiphorus was an active member and major contributor of the church Paul founded in Ephesus (modern day Turkey) where Paul appointed Timothy as pastor. This man assited Paul in the early years of his work in the church at Ephesus and later by often visiting Paul in his Roman prison cell just prior to the apostle’s execution.

“May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus,” (2nd Timothy 1.16-18).