making the scriptures plain

Notes

In the book 1st Timothy, Paul, as Jesus' apostle, writes to Timothy a fellow Gospel worker. Christ Jesus is declared to those who may not have heard the Good News. The message is that Jesus is not only the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, but He came into our world to save sinners, and that includes everyone! In fact He is the only way we can be reconciled to God, through the price He paid. But we have to believe in Him. The time is coming when Christ will appear from heaven to take us home. And intertwined in this wonderful message are ernest pleas that believers will represent their Saviour and follow His teachings faithfully.

In 2nd Timothy we hear the stunning news that even before this world was made we were already acknowledged and loved by our Heavenly Father. For even then He was planning for His Son to come here to break the power of death and to show us the way to everlasting life through the Gospel. So let's be good soldiers of Christ, the descendant of David who was raised from the dead.

It is worth putting up with anything as long as it means that everyone God has called accepts the salvation of Christ in all its glory. For the Lord knows those who are his. Study the written Word of God. It can give you wisdom about the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. When He comes as King and righteous Judge, He will crown everyone who has been looking forward to His coming. Meanwhile He will be by our side to see us through whatever trials we may face and help us to spread the news about His offer of salvation for all.

In his letter to Titus, Paul speaks of a wonderful truth that shows God's chosen ones how to live godly lives. This truth gives them the confidence of eternal life, which God had promised before the world began. And this truth is that Jesus gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing what is right. God washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Saviour did.

Paul was in prison for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus. In chains he writes to Philemon, a loved and trusted fellow believer, concerning Philemon's slave Onesimus. Put your generosity to work regarding Onesimus, urges Paul, and you will come to an understanding of all the good things you have through Christ. For he is no longer just a slave; he is a beloved brother in Christ. What does this tell us about Jesus? - that He is willing to accept people wherever they are, even if that is within an unjust regime; that His presence in our lives is liable to turn everything upside down; that through Him fellow believers of all walks of life become our brothers and sisters, equally loved, equally forgiven. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, because you surely need it. We all do.

Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith

1Tim.1.1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
1Tim.1.2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

1Tim.1.12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
1Tim.1.14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen

1Tim.1.15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1Tim.1.16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

1Tim.1.17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

All men to come unto the knowledge of the truth

1Tim.2.3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Tim.2.4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1Tim.2.5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1Tim.2.6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
1Tim.2.7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

The office of a deacon

1Tim.3.13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
1Tim.3.16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ

1Tim.4.6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
1Tim.4.10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

The younger widows

1Tim.5.11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
1Tim.5.21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

In the light which no man can approach

1Tim.6.3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
1Tim.6.13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
1Tim.6.14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1Tim.6.15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

1Tim.6.16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

That he may find mercy of the Lord

2Tim.1.1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2Tim.1.2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
2Tim.1.9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2Tim.1.10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

2Tim.1.12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
2Tim.1.13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
2Tim.1.18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

Endure hardness, as a good soldier

2Tim.2.1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2Tim.2.3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2Tim.2.7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
2Tim.2.8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
2Tim.2.10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
2Tim.2.19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

From a child thou hast known

2Tim.3.12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Tim.3.15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Unto all them also that love his appearing

2Tim.4.1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2Tim.4.8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Grace be with you. Amen

2Tim.4.17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
2Tim.4.18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

2Tim.4.22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

To Titus, mine own son

Titus.1.1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
Titus.1.2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Titus.1.3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
Titus.1.4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

A peculiar people, zealous of good works

Titus.2.10 Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Titus.2.13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Titus.2.14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Heirs according to the hope of eternal life

Titus.3.4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Titus.3.5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Titus.3.6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Titus.3.7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ

Phile.1.1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
Phile.1.3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Phile.1.5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
Phile.1.1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
Phile.1.3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Phile.1.5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Phile.1.9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
Phile.1.16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
Phile.1.20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
Phile.1.23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
Phile.1.25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.