As Paul the apostle
continued to share with Timothy, he addressed the false teachers
known as the Judaizers who were proclaiming heretical doctrines
concerning the law of God within the church at Ephesus. Timothy's
commission was to “charge” these men that they “teach
no other doctrine” than the doctrine Paul presented when he was
there. Paul told Timothy, “the law is not made for a righteous
man, but for the lawless and disobedient” and
he went on to give examples of whom those “lawless and
disobedient” were. In chapter
one and verse eleven of his letter, Paul shared “the
glorious gospel” is the source
from which he knew the truth concerning the law where we read:
According to the
glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
The verse begins, “According
to the glorious gospel of the blessed God,...” Paul
began, “According”
which means “down from and throughout” “to the
glorious” which literally
means “opinion, judgment, view or estimate” and implies
“splendor, brightness, of the moon, sun and stars; magnificence,
excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace and majesty” “gospel”
or “good tidings or news” “of the blessed” or “oh
how happy” “God” which refers to the “Godhead, trinity
and one and only true God”. Paul's reference point for the
significance of the law of God was none other than the “glorious”
good news that comes from the “oh how happy” one and true God.
The verse continues, “...which
was committed to my trust.” Paul
added, “which was committed”
which is the Greek phrase “pisteuō ego pisteuō” or
“placed confidence in or entrusted” “to my trust”.
Paul was trusted with “the glorious gospel of the blessed
God”, and because he was so
intimately commissioned with this “good news”, he knew its
relevance to the law of God.
As
we meditate upon Paul's words, let us imagine ourselves being Timothy
who is reading these things. Timothy's mentor and father in the faith
has given him the basis for his proper knowledge of the law and the
“glorious gospel” which
was commissioned to him, and now he is giving the information to
Timothy. Next, let us imagine that we are Paul, and we are attempting
to equip our “son in the faith”
with the proper understanding of the law and “gospel”
so he might be able to instruct others. Finally, let us consider that
we are the recipients of these words, and this “glorious
gospel of the blessed God” has
come “down from and throughout” the ages so we might be
commissioned with it today. Have we realized this beautiful and
glorious gift from God, and if so, to whom do we share it? May the
Lord Jesus help us to know the extent of this “glorious
gospel” and may it permeate
our lives so thoroughly that we cannot help but share it with all who
come into our path.
Next
time Paul thanks the Christ Jesus for putting him “in the
ministry”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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