Meditate on it

My paraphrase from NKJ, NLT,  ************************************* Paul identifies himself as appointed by God and Christ. In the greeting, he describes Timothy as a true son in the faith. He recaps that he told him to stay in Ephesus to combat incorrect teaching that leads to talking about pointless theories, sideways energy, in contrast to teaching that furthers God's plan, teaching that is practical, strengthening, and in faith. Types of teaching he identifies as meaningless: discussions of myths and spiritual pedigrees.   Paul says that "on point" teaching focuses on love that comes from a pure heart, clean conscience, and authentic faith. Some have wandered from this into unproductive talk. They want to teach the law and do so with an air of competency, but they don't understand what they are asserting to be true. The law is good if used correctly.  It was made for the lawless, not for those making the right choices. Some of the lawlessness listed: those who do

Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail." Luke 13:22-24 When reading this exchange, the narrow door has been prominent in my mind. Until this morning, I didn't think of the question, whether it was a good or fair one, or what the intent of the person asking. My bible commentaries mostly frame it with that perspective and have opened up a new way to think about it for me: Do they not but too plainly perceive that it is something, which they have no disposition to do, and is not this the secret of their fault-finding? -W. Nevins, D. D. *** Silence of Scripture on irrelevant questions Thus, a Government sends forth a colonist; hut gives him just information enough to enable him to perform his particular work. A general charges an inferior officer with a special

 Pastoral Epistles: 1 Timothy 2nd Timothy Titus sometimes Philemon "They are generally discussed as a group (sometimes with the addition of the Epistle to Philemon ) and are given the title pastoral because they are addressed to individuals with pastoral oversight of churches and discuss issues of Christian living, doctrine and leadership" -Wikipedia A more satisfactory solution is to assume that the Pastorals do not fit within the Book of Acts at all, but rather describe a period after the end of Acts. The Book of Acts ends with Paul in jail in Rome (a.d. 61-62). Surely if Paul was executed at the end of his imprisonment, Luke would have mentioned it. On the other hand, it is entirely credible that Paul could have been released (a.d. 62), perhaps for lack of evidence, and left free for another period of ministry. According to this supposition (which is all it can ever be), Paul traveled widely from a.d. 62 to 67 and was eventually recaptured, tried, and executed in Rome in

 I'm still following  this plan  that I began earlier this year---maybe January?  Honestly, I can't recall. I'm entering August, even though it's mid-November, but I've learned to let the Spirit dictate my pace rather than the calendar.  I'm okay with slow, even though I like to know I'm making progress. I felt like I was in Kings & Chronicles forever---always so much to keep up with in those books, so many J names and bad kings, so many cycles of tearing down idols and repairing the temple only to leave "the high places" often untouched. Then the next generation undoes what the prior had accomplished.  In many ways, it's like Judges.  Or our political system.  It reminds me of Ecclesiastes too---Solomon knew the deal. So, this is where I am today: Because I've worked through Kings & Chronicles separately, I've encountered all the history twice. I'm still not done.  To keep me on track and record my learnings, I've made