Saturday, October 3, 2020

1 Chronicles 7-9 Genealogies

• Genealogies:
1. The line to Israel
a. Adam to Noah (1:1-4)
b. Descendants of Japheth (1:5-7)
c. Descendants of Ham (1:5-7)
d. Descendants of Shem (1:17-27)
e. Descendants of Abraham (1:28-37)
f. The Edomites: The line of Esau and Seir (1:38-54)
g. Israel's sons (2:1-2)
2. The Tribe of Judah (2:3-4:23)
a. Line to David (2:11-15)
b. Other significant Judeans(2:16-55)
c. Davidic Line of kings (3:1-24) -- end suggests time of writing
d. The rest of Judah (4:1-23)
3. The Tribe of Simeon (4:24-43)
4. The Transjordan Tribes (5:1-26)
5. The Tribe of Levi (6:1-81)
6. The Tribes of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher (7:1-40)
7. The Tribe of Benjamin (8:1-9:1a)
8. The Postexilic Community (9:1b-34)

• The Chronicler puts the Levites in the middle of the Chronological lists. For the most part, Levi did remain faithful to God after the split. In a physical yet also metaphorical way, Levi was once in the middle of Israel, when was that?
• When the twelves 12 traveled through the desert during the Exodus, Levi surrounded the tabernacle
• Chiastic structure (used to point to the key element)

    A The lineage of David (chs. 1–3)
      B Judah and Simeon in the South (4:1–43)
         C The transjordanian tribes to the north (ch. 5)
           D Levi (ch. 6)
         C’ The other northern tribes (ch. 7)
      B’ Benjamin in the South (ch. 8)
    A’ The lineage of Saul (ch. 9)

(Leslie C Allen, 1988)

• The first fifteen verses focused on the priests

1 Chronicles 6:10 (ESV) — 
10 and Johanan fathered Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem). 
• With this reference, we have 12 generations between Aaron and the building of the temple
• Math: 12*40 equals 480 years which is equivalent to the following passage
1 Kings 6:1 (ESV) — 1 In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord. 
1 Chronicles 6:31–32 (ESV) — 
31 These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark rested there. 32 They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they performed their service according to their order. 

• The next major group are the temple musicians (6:31-47)
• David is mentioned quite often in 1 Chronicles in association with music
• David is also referred to as a man after God's own heart
○ Music is associated with emotion
○ Emotions are good (created by God) but can be misused
○ Logic and reason are good (mind is created by God) but can be misused
○ Following through on decisions is good (our will is created by God) but can be misused
○ APPLICATION: A person worships got with their whole being -- mind, hear, and will. Rather than over-focusing on your strength, which is your weakness? And what can you do to change or improve your worship?

1 Chronicles 6:49 (ESV) — 
49 But Aaron and his sons made offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense for all the work of the Most Holy Place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. 

• This section will discuss those involved in the duties of atonement, the priests and the Levites. These would include the sacrifices
• There is a very important word in this section, what is it? Atonement
• Atonement means "to cover over"
• The remaining verses show how the Levites were initially spread over all Israel. They were essential to the life of the nation
• APPLICATION: Our Christian faith is essential to our nation (and that ship is gone). But our faith is still important to our family and our personal life. Do not fall into the trap of separating faith from living in the world. Ask yourself questions throughout the day?
○ If I was in the church on Sunday, would I do the same thing?
○ If the pastor was standing next to me, would I have the same conversation
○ What would Jesus do in this situation?
§ Really a misused and misunderstood book, "in His Steps" by Charles M. Sheldon. Kindle for $0.00 and Paperback for $12.89  (only 150 small pages). It is a public domain book

• Notes on Chapter 7 
• The Chronicler lists six tribes of Israel
• He omits Dan and Zebulun, why?
○ This is common in scripture. To list all of the tribes would result in 14 names
○ Other passages of scripture use different combinations
○ It could also be that the tribes he listed, he felt were more important, but we don't know
• The Chronicler uses the phrase "all Israel" over times in Chronicles
○ He also uses the phrases "all the house of Israel" and "all the tribes of Israel"

1 Chronicles 7:20–24 (ESV) — 
20 The sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, and Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son, 21 Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, and Ezer and Elead, whom the men of Gath who were born in the land killed, because they came down to raid their livestock. 22 And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him. 23 And Ephraim went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son. And he called his name Beriah, because disaster had befallen his house. 24 His daughter was Sheerah, who built both Lower and Upper Beth-horon, and Uzzen-sheerah. 

• It is interesting the stories that the Chronicler highlights. There are two stories and two messages here
• Evil and disaster can happen to anyone
• Out of disaster, a daughter is raised who builds three of Israel's cities (probably the limit of their westward expansion)

1 Chronicles 7:40 (ESV) — 
40 All of these were men of Asher, heads of fathers’ houses, approved, mighty warriors, chiefs of the princes. Their number enrolled by genealogies, for service in war, was 26,000 men. 

• The beginning of Numbers uses 41,500 for Asher and the end of Numbers uses 53,400. At some later day, the force was down to 26,000
• Indicates the Chroniclers access to other information. Otherwise, you would just copy the biblical text
• I've noticed this in quite a few places where the number of fighting men is significantly smaller than the size in the book of Numbers

• Chapter 8 focuses on Benjamin quite a bit. Benjamin is the second tribe of the southern kingdom. It lay a little north of Judah. Also, the first king of Israel, Saul (barely mentioned), came from this tribe
• Chapter 9 focuses on those who return (post-exile)
• Chapter 9 ends with Benjamin again and a repeat introduction to Saul


 

Monday, September 21, 2020

1 Chronicles 4-6 Genealogies: We need to trust God in days of difficulty

 • Genealogies:

1. The line to Israel

a. Adam to Noah (1:1-4)

b. Descendants of Japheth (1:5-7)

c. Descendants of Ham (1:5-7)

d. Descendants of Shem (1:17-27)

e. Descendants of Abraham (1:28-37)

f. The Edomites: The line of Esau and Seir (1:38-54)

g. Israel's sons (2:1-2)

2. The Tribe of Judah (2:3-4:23)

a. Line to David (2:11-15)

b. Other significant Judeans(2:16-55)

c. Davidic Line of kings (3:1-24) -- end suggests time of writing

d. The rest of Judah (4:1-23)

3. The Tribe of Simeon (4:24-43)

4. The Transjordan Tribes (5:1-26)

5. The Tribe of Levi (6:1-81)

6. The Tribes of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher (7:1-40)

7. The Tribe of Benjamin (8:1-9:1a)

8. The Postexilic Community (9:1b-34)

1 Chronicles 3:16–24 (ESV) — 16 The descendants of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son; 17 and the sons of Jeconiah, the captive: Shealtiel his son, 18 Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama and Nedabiah; 19 and the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei; and the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith was their sister; 20 and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed, five. 21 The sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, his son Rephaiah, his son Arnan, his son Obadiah, his son Shecaniah. 22 The son of Shecaniah: Shemaiah. And the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat, six. 23 The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam, three. 24 The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani, seven. 

• We won't read the above passage. These are all the significant sons of the line of David.

• Why are they included?

• There is hope

• The line of David is not ended

• The Messiah is still protected

1 Chronicles 4:9–10 (ESV) — 9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. 

• This is unique to Chronicles and interesting. This is what we might call a theological periscope

• What does Jabez name mean? Sorrow

• There was an ancient belief that the name represents the character and there was a fear that evil consequences might follow the boy (Gen 35:18 is an example). In light of that context, what is the writer conveying?

• God can overcome the liabilities of the past and present

• The writer believed in the efficacy of pray (we will see this more throughout the book)

1 Chronicles 4:31 (ESV) — 31 Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David reigned. 

• So this is a verse in the line of Simeon. The tribe essentially disappears and is absorbed into Judah. Part of their area was also Philistine area

• Joshua 19:1, 9 (ESV) — 1 The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the people of Simeon, according to their clans, and their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the people of Judah. … 9 The inheritance of the people of Simeon formed part of the territory of the people of Judah. Because the portion of the people of Judah was too large for them, the people of Simeon obtained an inheritance in the midst of their inheritance. 

• Why bother to mention a tribe in such great detail that essentially had vanished?

• The writer want to convey the idea of a complete Israel. Again, God is not finished with his people and has not forgotten them

• In Revelation, the tribe is included in the 144k

We now move to the Transjordan tribes (Chapter 5)

1 Chronicles 5:1–2 (ESV) — 1 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he could not be enrolled as the oldest son; 2 though Judah became strong among his brothers and a chief came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph), 

• Reuben is the first of the Transjordan tribes, there are two and one-half

• Reuben

• Gad

• Half-tribe of Manasseh

• Thompson says that Reuben was absorbed by the tribe of Gad. All the tribes were taken away by the Assyrians

1 Chronicles 5:18–22 (ESV) — 18 The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had valiant men who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in war, 44,760, able to go to war. 19 They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20 And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him. 21 They carried off their livestock: 50,000 of their camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men alive. 22 For many fell, because the war was of God. And they lived in their place until the exile. 

• There is a message that the Chronicler will repeat over and over again and it comes out in these verses. What is it?

• It doesn't matter you great strength or your lack of strength

• The Transjordan tribes did not have a leader (or at least no king or leader is mentioned). We don't know when this happened.

• What was their source of victory?

○ They cried out to God in prayer

○ They trusted in God

○ God answered their prayer

In contrast to the example of trusting God, we have another example

1 Chronicles 5:23, 25–26 (ESV) — 23 The members of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land. They were very numerous from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. … 25 But they broke faith with the God of their fathers, and whored after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. 26 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, the spirit of Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and he took them into exile, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day. 

• What is the contrast in this group?

• Idols destroyed them

• We have idols today as well -- what are our idols?

○ Things

○ Possessions

○ Titles

○ Our image of God

APPLICATION / PRINCIPLES (4-6)

1. To remind us of God's control

2. To remind us that our victory is found in trusting God

3. To remind us that our victory is found in prayer

4. To remind us that it is not our strength or leaders that is important, but that God is the only one that is important

        5. To remind us to turn from sin and idols







Monday, September 7, 2020

Background (Source: Multiple -- Constable, Thompson, Crockett and Beecher, Jackson)


    • Titles
      • Earliest Hebrew title for the books of Chronicles translates as "The Things Left Behind"
      • A later title that appears in most copies is "The Account of the Days" or "Daily Matters"
      • Our title "Chronicles" comes from this latter title
      • Number of Books
        • Like Samuel and Kings, Chronicles is only one book in the Hebrew bible. The translation into Greek (The Septuagint) was to make copying easier for the scribes.
        • Also, the Septuagint title could be translated "Things omitted"
          • So, the material contains things omitted from the original inspired histories
          • It also contains a lot of similar material as well
    • Who is the writer?
      • Earliest Jewish tradition recorded in the Talmud ascribes the book to Ezra
      • Obviously there are critics who disagree (based on linguistic studies)
      • If not, it was a contemporary of Ezra (approx. 450-40 BC)
    • Timelines
    • Map (at the time of writing, but probably inclusive of time period)
    • Scope and Purpose
      • Half of the material is probably covered in Genesis, Samuel, and Kings
      • The writer appears to desire to give a different perspective
        • Similar to the distinction in the gospels, there is a purpose in the history
        • The tone has a sermon-like quality (like the Gospel of John)
    John 20:30–31 (ESV) — 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
    2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV) — 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
    • The purpose of these two volumes [1 and 2 Chronicles] is to review the history of Israel from the dawn of the human race to the Babylonian captivity and Cyrus’ edict of restoration. This review is composed with a very definite purpose in mind, to give to the Jews of the Second Commonwealth the true spiritual foundations of their theocracy as the covenant people of Jehovah. This historian’s purpose is to show that the true glory of the Hebrew nation was found in its covenant relationship to God, … (Archer, p 404; also Merrill, p.158, 185)
    • The writer also saw principles from history
      • Example: Kings shows how sin leads to defeats
      • 2 Kings 17:15–18 (ESV) — 15 They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them. 16 And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. 17 And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. None was left but the tribe of Judah only.
      • Chronicles shows how after two returns from exile, faith is the victory
      • 2 Chronicles 20:20–22 (ESV) — 20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,
    “Give thanks to the Lord,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.”
    22 And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.
    • There are a lot of genealogies
      • The genealogies teach us this lesson. The way to achieve permanence and success in individual life, and the way to achieve stability and success in national life, is to recognize God in life. Throughout history people and nations have succeeded or failed as they recognized God. This is a major point the writer was demonstrating in the genealogies. God has been selecting, changing, interrupting, and moving through history inexorably toward His ultimate goal. (Constable)

    Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (2 Ki 25:8). Galaxie Software.
    • The writer presents David as the model king. He uses four pictures
      • The first of these was his crowning that shows God’s choice of him
      • The second was his capture of Jerusalem that was the victory that led to the temple
      • The third picture was his mighty men. It shows his influence on personal character and his true power
      • The fourth was the gathering of multitudes behind his leadership that shows his influence on the masses
    • The temple is a key part of the story -- the temple symbolizes "Israel's nation recognition of God"
    • How does this book apply to us?
      1. The recognition of God is still important. God governs all nations
        • Deuteronomy 32:8 (ESV) —
    8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance,
    when he divided mankind,
    he fixed the borders of the peoples
    according to the number of the sons of God.
    • Deuteronomy 32:37–43 (ESV) —
    37 Then he will say, ‘Where are their gods,
    the rock in which they took refuge,
    38 who ate the fat of their sacrifices
    and drank the wine of their drink offering?
    Let them rise up and help you;
    let them be your protection!
    39 “ ‘See now that I, even I, am he,
    and there is no god beside me;
    I kill and I make alive;
    I wound and I heal;
    and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.
    40 For I lift up my hand to heaven
    and swear, As I live forever,
    41 if I sharpen my flashing sword
    and my hand takes hold on judgment,
    I will take vengeance on my adversaries
    and will repay those who hate me.
    42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood,
    and my sword shall devour flesh—
    with the blood of the slain and the captives,
    from the long-haired heads of the enemy.’
    43 “Rejoice with him, O heavens;
    bow down to him, all gods,
    for he avenges the blood of his children
    and takes vengeance on his adversaries.
    He repays those who hate him
    and cleanses his people’s land.”
    • It is important that we recognize God because of His selective activity that the genealogies highlight. (Constable)
      • Throughout all of history God has been choosing, selecting, lifting up, and casting down. He selects new people in every generation. If they fail, He selects others and keeps moving ahead. If the person we would normally expect God to use is not ready or is unqualified, God will choose another (cf. Saul and David).
      • If the person with privilege does not respond to his opportunity, God will pass him by, find some other perhaps obscure person, and move on.
      • How foolish it is for nations and individuals not to recognize Him in view of God’s sovereign progress.
      • “. . . it should be noted that a further theme of Chr., that of the Lord’s willingness to start afresh with his errant people, is also tucked away almost unnoticed in the genealogies.”(McConville)
    • It is also important that we recognize God because of the effect recognizing Him has on life. Take God out of the life of nations and individuals and what happens? There is no moral standard. An English politician once said, “If there is no Bible, where is your textbook of morals? There is the supreme difficulty. We must teach morals, and there is no textbook or standard in the world if we take the Bible away.”(G. Campbell Morgan)
      • When we lose our moral standard we lose individual character. When we lose individual character we lose the basis for civilized society. These things build on each other. Awareness of the throne of God and the government of God is foundational for any social order.
    • It is extremely important for every nation to build the temple of God, to recognize God in its life. This creates an opportunity for people to deal with God. Movements that advocate removing recognition of God from national life are pernicious. The person who points people to God is the true patriot. David wrote, “Zeal for your house has eaten me up.” What is God’s temple today? It is the church (Matt. 16:18). As the church we must point people to God. This was the “point” of church steeples in the past, to point people to God.
    • Outline
      1. Israel’s historical roots chs. 1–9
        1. The lineage of David chs. 1–3
        2. The house of Israel chs. 4–7
          1. The family of Judah 4:1–23
          2. The family of Simeon 4:24–43
          3. The families of Transjordan ch. 5
          4. The family of Levi ch. 6
          5. The remaining families of Israel ch. 7
             C. The lineage of Saul chs. 8–9
    1. The reign of David chs. 10–29
      1. The death of Saul ch. 10
      2. David’s coronation and capital 11:1–9
      3. David’s mighty men 11:10–12:40
      4. David and the ark chs. 13–16
        1. The removal of the ark from Kiriath-jearim ch. 13
        2. Restoring fellowship with Yahweh ch. 14
        3. The importance of the priests and Levites 15:1–15
        4. The joy produced by God’s presence 15:16–16:6
        5. David’s concern for the universal worship of Yahweh 16:7–43
      5. God’s covenant promises to David chs. 17–29
        1. The first account of God’s promises to David chs. 17–21
        2. The second account of God’s promises to David chs. 22–27
        3. The third account of God’s promises to David chs. 28–29




Saturday, August 15, 2020

2 Tim 4:1-8 Charge on how to live in the last days


    Outline (my edits to Constable's original outline)
    1. Salutation 1:1–2
    2. Faithful Service 1:3–18
      1. Fan the flame 1:3–7
      2. Don't be afraid 1:8–14
      3. Examples of faithful and unfaithful service 1:15–18
    3. Exhortations to discipleship 2:1–26
      1.  Making disciples 2:1–13
        1. Picture of Discipleship 2:1–2
        2. Characteristics of Disciple-Makers
        3. The examples of Jesus and Paul 2:8–10
        4. Importance of Faithfulness 2:11–13
      2. Serving as  Disciples 2:14–26
        1. Handling the word 2:14–18
        2. Being an example to others 2:19–21
        3. Living as a disciple 2:22–26
    4. Directions concerning the last days 3:1–4:8
      1. Characteristics of the last days 3:1–7
      2. Warnings about false teachers 3:8-9
      3. Conduct of a disciple in the last days 3:10-17
        1. Example of Timothy the disciple following Paul 3:10-13
        2. Importance of the word of God for disciples 3:11-17
        3. Paul's charge to Timothy 4:1-5
      4. Paul's role in the last days 4:6-8
    1. Concluding personal instructions and information 4:9–22
      1. Fellow workers and an opponent 4:9–15
      2. Paul’s preliminary hearing in court 4:16–18
      3. Additional greetings and instructions 4:19–21
      4. Benediction 4:22

    2 Timothy 4:1–5 (ESV) —
    1 I charge you 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: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

    • Review this section so far:
    Verse
    Clause
    Purpose
    3:1
    But understand this, that in the last days …
    What is coming
    3:10
    You however have followed my teaching, …
    His preparation
    3:14
    But as for you, continue in what you have learned … All scripture is breathed out by God …
    His resources
    4:1
    I charge you in the presence of God and of Jesus Christ …
    His duty or responsibilities
    • Paul has warned Timothy, encouraged him, and reminded him, now he charges him
    • Verse1: What is the preamble of the charge and its purpose?
      • In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus
        • Will judge the living and the dead (Includes Christians and maybe focuses on Christians)
        • His appearing -- Grk word epiphaneia -- glorious manifestation of a god (used of the Roman Emperors when they would visit a location)
        • His kingdom is the millennial kingdom (also relates to believers)
      • Summary: The Lord is returning (soon); he will judge us for how we are living and have lived our Christian lives (note: eternal life is based on what Christ did on the cross); and then will set up the kingdom (our roles to be determined by how we have lived -- works)
    • What are the parts of the charge?
      • Admittedly, Timothy is a leader of the church, although I do not believe this is limited to pastors as we all lead in some way and in some settings (even passively -- if you don't want to do something in a group -- you are leading by your refusal to be a part -- that causes the perceived leader to possible change the action)
      1. Preach the word -- Grk word kerusso means to herald it or proclaim it -- It is related to other words which simply mean "tell"
        • I will agree that some people are heralds of the word
        • But all people have a responsibility to know it and tell it to others
      2. Be ready in season and out of season
        • In my view, the only way to be ready is to be prepared.
          • At work, I spend a lot of time reading articles on my subject area. I want to be ready. I want to understand the latest technology. I want to understand the problems. I want to be able to intelligently converse. I have to read
        • We need to study. We need to read the word. We need to memorize the word. And we need to apply the word -- or quite frankly, you will not be ready
        • Grk word for ready, ephistemi, means to stand by
      3. Reprove
        • We can hardly reprove someone if we are not regularly in the word ourselves
        • The word means to tell someone there fault, but also add the end of the sentence "with complete patience and teaching"
          • How do you do that? My approach, I'm not sure that is the best approach. The bible says ___ _____ ____ ____, and so I have been convicted that I should do this ____ ____ ____
      4. Rebuke
        • This is a little harsher and means to charge. This is when the actions are clearly against scripture and the person claims to be a believer in Jesus Christ. Examples:
          • Living together outside of marriage
          • Lying on your taxes
          • Stealing from your work
          • Hiding income because you don't want to pay taxes
        • Again, we need to add complete patience and teaching. A rebuke should not be a shouting match
      5. Exhort
        • This is more the idea of urging someone to do something
        • It is a good thing they ought to do

    • Latter three -- all with complete patience and teaching
    • Time is coming -- people will not endure sound teaching -- what does that mean?
      • It means that people will create their own idols of who God is
      • People will say that they don't believe God is like that, but there God is loving and would never send a good person to Hell (this is an idol)
      • They will only listen to the people or preachers they want to hear (notice the issue is not the word of God, but what they want to hear)
      • Turn from truth (no absolute truth -- truth is how you find it -- INCREDIBLY SAD) to find teaching that suits their own passions (this is especially true in many churches where the teaching on sexual desires and relationships have changed to fit the attendee)
      • Wander (no direction - defn 1A (medical) to dislocate limbs) to follow myths (also translated an invention or falsehood) -- myths are how we develop idols
    • As for you -- we could argue this is an extension of the charge or rather a different way of reacting to truth that you might not like. What is the teaching?
      • Be sober-minded. The Grk word nepho can actually be translated calm or steady or circumspect -- don't over-react
      • Endure suffering -- that is pretty obvious, but the opposite is a better way to describe it. What is the opposite?
        • To complain
        • To gripe
        • To whine
        • To make sure everyone knows how hard things are
      • Do the work of an evangelist -- sharing the gospel
      • Fulfill you ministry -- serve God, not yourself

      Job or Ministry? (Anonymous, Constable Notes)
    Job
    Ministry
    A job is one you choose;
    A ministry is one Christ chooses for you.
    A job depends on your abilities;
    A ministry depends on your availability to God.
    In a job you expect to receive;
    In a ministry you expect to give.
    A job done well brings you self-esteem;
    A ministry done well brings honor to Jesus Christ.
    In a job you give something to get something;
    In a ministry you return something that has already been given to you.
    A job well done has temporal remuneration;
    A ministry well done brings eternal rewards.

    2 Timothy 4:6–8 (ESV) —
    6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

    • What is Paul saying in verse 6?
      • I am going to die soon
      • The pouring out of the drink (wine) offering was usually the last act in the sacrificial ceremony (Hendrikson)
    • Paul uses three more pictures to describe his life (two are athletic and one seems to be a steward)
      • I have fought the good fight (soldier) -- he trained for the battle well; he was not defeated because of poor training (skills of fighting)
      • I have finished the race (athlete) -- he also trained for endurance; he was not defeated by circumstances
      • I have kept the faith (steward) -- he did not deny the gospel; he did not shrink back from telling people the truth
    • What would be the result of Paul's life?
      • Part of the believer's judgment, Paul would receive the crown of righteousness (a crown for people who loved his appearing -- they were more in love with the idea of being with God than with the world -- he spent his time living for God not for the things of the world)
    • Five Crowns
    Believer Crown
    Reason
    Reference
    An Imperishable Crown
    For leading a disciplined life
    1 Cor 9:25
    A Crown of Rejoicing
    For evangelism and discipleship
    1 Thess 2:19
    A Crown of Righteousness
    For loving the Lord's appearing
    2 Tim 4:8
    A Crown of Life
    For enduring trials
    James 1:12
    Rev 2:10
    A Crown of Glory
    For shepherding God's flock faithfully
    1 Pet 5:4

    • Believer's judgment?
      • Will we receive a crown or not?
      • When the elders throw their crown at the Lord's feet, will we have anything to give?
      • What does our salvation mean to us?