JUNE 29, 67 AD - Paul and Peter Are Martyred

• According to early church tradition, this is the day that Paul is beheaded in Rome during Nero’s reign.
• Around the same time, Peter is found confounding the magic of Simon Magus, who is favored by Nero.
• Peter is imprisoned and leads a captain of the guard to Christ, along with many others.
• Peter is scourged, then crucified upside down because he does not feel worthy to die as did his Lord.
• Aristarchus from Thessalonica, Erastus from Corinth, Trophimus from Ephesus, Joseph Barsabbas from Jerusalem, and Ananias of Damascus, along with many other Christians, are all martyred under Nero’s reign in A.D. 68
• Andrew, the apostle and brother of Peter, is crucified in Patras, Greece on an x-shaped cross.49
• Luke is crucified with him.
• After preaching the gospel in India, Armenia, Southern Arabia, and Ethiopia, Bartholomew (also called Nathanael) one of the Twelve, is beaten and crucified in Albanopolis, Armenia.
• John Mark brings the gospel to Alexandria, Egypt.
• While there, he enrages a mob by telling them that the pagan god, Serapis, is worthless.
• Mark is dragged with a rope around his neck through the streets by horses and then imprisoned for the night.
• The following morning, the same ordeal is repeated until his death.

 
Nero and Vespasian June 9, 68

• After fourteen years of Nero’s reign, the Roman people can no longer tolerate their cruel and embarrassing emperor.
• So they revolt against Nero.
• The Senate declares him to be a public enemy of the State, and soldiers pursue him.
• Upon hearing this, Nero hides at the home of one of his freedmen in a villa outside of Rome where he commits suicide.
• His famous last words are: “What an artist the world is losing in me.”

 
Crisis in the Churches of the Dispersion

• False teachers have subtly infiltrated the dispersed Jewish churches and are spreading a false doctrine that perverts God’s grace to be license to sin.
• These false brethren have successfully disguised themselves as true believers and have managed to partake of the Lord’s Supper with the church.
• These false teachers can be described as follows: They are distorting the gospel by advocating sexual license under the banner of God’s grace.
• They are “dreamers,” seeing visions that originate from themselves and not from the Lord.
• They slander angels, which means they despise the Law of Moses that was delivered by angels.
• They indulge their own needs when eating the Lord’s Supper.
• They are grumblers and malcontents, pursuing their own will rather than God’s.
• They are arrogant and use flattery to take advantage of God’s people.
• They are scoffers, laughing at moral purity and Divine judgment.
• They are devoid of the Spirit of God and provoke divisions in the church.
• Jude possesses a copy of Peter’s second letter.
• In it, he sees the fulfillment of Peter’s prediction about the coming of false teachers coming to pass before his eyes.54
• Jude, the half-brother of Jesus and brother of “James the Just,” is burdened about this problem.

 
JUDE WRITES THE LETTER OF JUDE Year: A.D. 68

• To: The dispersed Jewish Christians in and outside of Palestine Provocation: Jude exposes and announces condemnation on the false teachers who have infiltrated the churches.
• He also reminds and exhorts the believers to return to and contend for the original faith that the apostles delivered to them.… [1]

 
GREETING
JUDE
1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James:

• Jude reveals himself to be a bond-servant of God, or a willing servant of God, because of His mercy and grace.
• Jude, being the brother of James, was likely also the brother of Jesus.

To those who are the called, loved, by God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.

• God the Father is keeping all of His children for Jesus Christ.
• This is a passage that speaks very clearly of eternal security.
• Believers are kept by God and offered as a gift to Jesus.

2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

• A true knowledge of God results in mercy and grace from God, which breeds peace and contentment within the lives of believers.
• We are dearly loved by God who has done everything we need for a safe and secure salvation.

 
JUDE’S PURPOSE IN WRITING
3 Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write, appealing to you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all.

• Jude wants his readers to fight for truth because it is the very message from God to the world.
• This Gospel of grace is what God has handed down to the saints for delivery to the world.
• Jude is concerned about the message of God’s grace being perverted and leading people to deception.

4 For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago,, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.

• The false teachers encouraged a life of celebration of sin and also had some form of denial of Jesus’s identity.
• All false teachings, as defined by the Bible, deny some aspect of Jesus, and encourage godless behavior.
• In this context the godless behavior is abusing grace through sinful behavior.
• The false teachers were likely appealing to eternal security as a reason to sin all-the-more.
• Such teachings are often the result of having heard the truth about God’s grace in Christ.
• If God’s grace is truly free, then it can naturally be twisted to encourage sin.
• A legalistic Gospel would never yield false teachings.

 
APOSTATES: PAST AND PRESENT
5 Now I want to remind you, although you came to know all these things once and for all, that Jesus saved a people out of Egypt and later destroyed those who did not believe;

• The believers knew the Gospel and knew God at the core of their beings.
• Jude is appealing to this reality as he reminds God’s children about the truth.
• The Gospel of grace is indeed free, according to James, but it will never lead to sinful behavior.
• God is not a fan of sin which is precisely why Jude recounts the Old Testament story of the Exodus.

6 and the angels who did not keep their own position but abandoned their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deep darkness for the judgment on the great day. 7 Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns committed sexual immorality and perversions, and serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

• Sodom and Gomorrah have been personified as the epitome of sexual immorality.
• These two cities are an example of what happens to those who reject the Gospel in general, and the false teachers encouraging sin in particular.
• There is an eternal punishment which awaits all who are not in Christ through faith.

8 In the same way these people—relying on their dreams—defile their flesh, reject authority, and slander glorious ones. 9 Yet when Michael the archangel

• The false teachers seem fascinated by communication with angelic beings.
• Yet these teachers know nothing of true angels or demons.

was disputing with the devil in an argument about Moses’s body,

• No Old Testament data, or New Testament data, testifies to the argument mentioned in this passage.
• We do know that Moses died and was buried, so perhaps Satan accused Moses after his death.
• Satan may have been arguing that Moses was not deserving of resurrection.

he did not dare utter a slanderous condemnation against him but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

• Michael did not appeal to his position as an archangel to rebuke Satan.
• Instead, Michael appealed to the Lord’s power to fight the devil.

10 But these people blaspheme anything they do not understand. And what they do understand by instinct—like irrational animals—by these things they are destroyed.

• The false teachers are acting as authoritative representatives of God, but they actually do not know anything.
• If one invests in their message, they will find only immorality and discontent.

11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, have plunged into Balaam’s error for profit, and have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

• The “way of Balaam” is merchandising one’s gifts and ministry just for the purpose of making money.
• It is using the spiritual to gain the material.[2]
• The story of Core (Korah) is found in Numbers 16, and it too centers on rebellion against authority.
• Korah and his followers resented the leadership of Moses and dared God to do anything about their rebellion.[3]
• All 3… the tragedy of rejecting authority.

 
THE APOSTATES’ DOOM
12 These people are dangerous reefs at your love feasts as they eat with you without reverence. They are shepherds who only look after themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds; trees in late autumn—fruitless, twice dead and uprooted.

• Jude is clearly not speaking about Christians.
• This presents an important factor in who the Bible labels as false teachers.
• True biblical false teachers are never true Christians.

13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering stars for whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever.
14 It was about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: “Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.”

• All that we know about Enoch from Scripture is found in Genesis 5:18–24; Hebrews 11:5; and these two verses in Jude.
• He is called “the seventh from Adam” to identify him as the godly Enoch, since Cain had a son of the same name (Gen. 4:17).[4]
• Bible scholars tell us that this quotation is from an apocryphal book called The Book of Enoch.
• The fact that Jude quoted from this nonbiblical book does not mean the book is inspired and trustworthy, any more than Paul’s quotations from the Greek poets put God’s “seal of approval” on everything they wrote.
• The Spirit of God led Jude to use this quotation and make it a part of the inspired Scriptures.[5]
• All who reject Christ will experience judgment and conviction.
• Jude, therefore, believes these false teachers to be under condemnation and awaiting an everlasting darkness.

16 These people are discontented grumblers, living according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage.
17 But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Notice that Jude differentiates between those false teachers and believers.
• Jude has not been addressing believers in a condemning way.
• Instead, he recognizes their holiness in the midst of the false teachers and insists that they were even warned of such teachers.

18 They told you, “In the end time there will be scoffers living according to their own ungodly desires.” 19 These people create divisions and are worldly, not having the Spirit.

• The false teachers did not have the Spirit of God within them.
• Therefore, they were not Christians, nor were they led by the Spirit.
• This would have been critical for the early church to grasp so they did not embrace the lies being taught.

 
EXHORTATION AND BENEDICTION
20 But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith,

• The Gospel builds up God’s children.
• Whereas it condemns all who reject Christ, it continuously encourages and matures Christians.

praying in the Holy Spirit,

• This is not speaking of talking in some sort of mystical tongue.
• Instead, Jude is describing the location of the Christian in Christ and calling Christians to pray to God with their location in mind.

21 keep yourselves in the love of God,

• Jude encourages Christians to remind themselves constantly of God’s love.
• It is God’s love that will always lead us into a deeper understanding of the truth.

waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. 22 Have mercy on those who waver; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

• Jude is making it clear that there are different types of people.
• Some, likely believers, doubt aspects of God’s truth.
• These people are to be encouraged through gentleness and patience.
• Others, who do not know God, are to be loved to Christ that they may be rescued from the fire.

24 Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.[6]

• Jude ends with an encouragement to Christians.
• Our salvation and security are God’s problem and agenda.
• It is God’s job to keep us spiritually safe and to help us persevere in the Spirit.
• God is able to make us stand in the midst of any attack of the world, and also at the final judgment.
• Christians will stand proudly in the love of Christ as God judges all who have rejected His Son.
• This includes the false teachers mentioned in this letter.[7]

[1] Viola, Frank. The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: An Extraordinary Guide to Understanding the New Testament. Destiny Image. Kindle Edition.
[2] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 554.
[3] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 555.
[4] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 557.
[5] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 557.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Jud 1–25.
[7] Farley, Andrew. www.BibleCommentary.com. Jude.

The false prophet teachers were teaching:

• The material world of matter is evil.
• Christ could not come to the earth in human flesh.
• He came in Spirit and only seemed touchable in human flesh.
• Jesus was not the Son of God.
• Since salvation means deliverance from the physical world, including the physical body, it does not matter how a person behaves in their body.
• Since sin is part of the material world, sin does not exist for the Christian.We (false  prophets) are sinless.
• We (false prophets) have special insight from God’s Spirit to see these deeper truths.

 
GREETING
2 JOHN
1 The elder:

• John is believed to be the author who writes all 3 letters from Ephesus.
• This could have been written to a specific church in the Roman Province since that was John’s main area of ministry.

To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not only I, but also all who know the truth--

• John is likely referring to an entire congregation.
• These children believe in Jesus within a specific local church though it is certainly applicable to all believers.
• All who believe in Jesus have an inborn love for all who love the truth of God’s grace.
• John is writing from this indwelling love for other Christians.
• Unbelievers do not have the same natural agape love for truth because they are incompatible with truth until they have received the Gospel.

2 because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us forever.

• Contrary to the message John speaks to unbelievers (1 John 1:9) John does not hesitate to remind believers that they are in the truth and that the truth, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, lives in them forever.
• They have believed the Gospel and have been perfectly forgiven and cleansed from all sin.
• Because they have believed in the Gospel, they will forever be one with the grace, mercy, and peace offered by God the Father and Jesus Christ.

3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

• Grace is not a buzzword for popular teaching movements.
• Grace is the entire framework of God.
• Because of God’s grace, there is mercy from God.
• God decides to not condemn us even though we deserve it.
• This grace and mercy lead to a peaceful relationship with the Trinity.
• There is no longer enmity between believers and God.
• God is not ticked off.
• This is a reality regardless of our feelings and emotional experiences.

 
TRUTH AND DECEPTION
4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, in keeping with a command we have received from the Father.

• Some of the members of the church were having trouble maturing in God’s grace.
• This is what John means by walking in the truth.
• Notice that these people have already received the command from the Father to believe in the Son.
• This commandment is not new.
• It is God’s pleading for us to believe in His goodness and love and transmit this love to others.
• Love is the defining characteristic of Christians.

5 So now I ask you, dear lady—not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 This is love: that we walk according to his commands.

• John is not referring to the Old Covenant law but rather the command to believe in Jesus and love one another (1 John 3:23).
• These are the New Covenant laws: Believe and love.
• We receive God’s love for us in Christ and transmit it to others.

This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: that you walk in love.
7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.

• As with 1 John and the Gospel of John, the apostle is combatting the Gnostic heresy that Christ did not come in the flesh.
• This matters because God’s love was manifested in the flesh in Christ.
• If Jesus was merely an illusion, then God’s love was not truly manifested.
• Jesus Christ died physically and truly in a human sense so that He could defeat the very death that plagues us.
• If we remove that from the Gospel, then we have no Gospel at all.

This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

• The antichrist is evidently not a singular figure according to John.
• The antichrist is a group of people who are rejecting Christ’s humanity.
• We see this also in 1 John (see 1 John 2:18).

8 Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.

• John is talking about the benefit of knowing God’s love in this life.
• He does not want anyone to fall short of understanding God’s love.

9 Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it does not have God.

• There is a difference between being confused about God’s love and being so far from understanding it that one is not truly saved.
• However, John does leave room for people to be so far from the Gospel that they are not saved.
• In the context, this is referring to Gnostics, but John did not want anyone on the fence about Jesus to be deceived into their heresy.

The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son.

• True Christians will have an abiding faith in Jesus and consequently will forever be in relationship with the Father and the Son.
• Jesus died and rose again because He wanted us to forever know that He loves us and likes us.

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and do not greet him; 11 for the one who greets him shares in his evil works.

• John wanted believers to keep a large relational distance from the false teachers.
• This would ensure that they were not deceived by the false teachings.
• John is not talking about distancing ourselves from friends or family members who have rejected Christ.
• He is specifically addressing a group of people who were trying to deceive this church by coming directly to their homes.
• Apparently, there was enough temptation being faced by Christians to warrant this command.[1]
  
  

FAREWELL
12 Though I have many things to write to you, I don’t want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete.
13 The children of your elect sister send you greetings.[2]

GREETING
3 JOHN
1 The elder:
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
2 Dear friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and are in good health, just as your whole life is going well.

• Could imply that he had been previously ill.

3 For I was very glad when fellow believers came and testified to your fidelity to the truth—how you are walking in truth.

• It is clear that Gaius’ entire life was wrapped up in the truth.
• True living comes from the living truth.

4 I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in truth.

• It is possible that John is the one who shared initial Truth with Gaius and pointed him to salvation in Jesus.
  
  

GAIUS COMMENDED
5 Dear friend, you are acting faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers and sisters, especially when they are strangers. 6 They have testified to your love before the church.

• In practical ways, he assisted those who were ministering the Word.
• We have no indication that Gaius himself was a preacher or teacher, but he opened his heart and home to those who were.[3]

You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God, 7 since they set out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from pagans. 8 Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can be coworkers with the truth.

• Carmel House Man - Ralph Burke – Hockey game
• Ketchup Man – Kevin Andrews
• Panera Guy - William Joyner
• Scott Long – Ravenswood minister
  
  

DIOTREPHES AND DEMETRIUS
9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive our authority. 10 This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words.

• Accusing John of false and empty charges.

And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome fellow believers, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church.

• The church members who received John’s associates were dismissed from the church!
• Again, it was guilt by association.
• Diotrephes had neither the authority nor the biblical basis for throwing these people out of the church, but he did it.
• Whenever a church has a resident dictator in its membership, there are bound to be problems because people who are spiritually minded will not tolerate that kind of leadership.
• The Holy Spirit is grieved when the members of the body are not permitted to exercise their gifts because one member must have his own way.

11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. 12 Everyone speaks well of Demetrius—even the truth itself. And we also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.

• Demetrius was a man worth imitating because he had a “good report” (witness) from the church fellowship.
• All the members knew him, loved him, and thanked God for his consistent life and ministry.
  
  

FAREWELL
13 I have many things to write you, but I don’t want to write to you with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

• John had warned that he was going to visit the church and confront Diotrephes, and no doubt both Gaius and Demetrius would stand with John in opposing the “dictator.”
• They were the kind of men who would support the truth and submit themselves to authentic spiritual authority.
• Because they followed the truth, they could safely be imitated by other believers.[4]

15 Peace to you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.[5]

[1] Farley, Andrew. www.BibleCommentary.com. 2 John.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Wiersbe, Warren W. 1996. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Wiersbe, Warren W. 1996. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

63 AD

• Some historians have estimated that half of the population of the Roman Empire was composed of slaves.
• Many of these people were educated and cultured, but legally they were not considered persons at all.
• The Gospel message of salvation and freedom in Christ appealed to the slaves, and many of them became believers.
• When slaves were able to get away from their household duties, they would fellowship in local assemblies where being a slave was not a handicap (Gal. 3:28).
• But there was a problem: Some slaves used their newfound freedom in Christ as an excuse to disobey, if not defy, their masters.
• They needed to learn that their spiritual freedom in Christ did not alter their social position, even though they were accepted graciously into the fellowship of the church.[1]

 
HONORING MASTERS
1 TIMOTHY 6
1 All who are under the yoke as slaves should regard their own masters as worthy of all respect, so that God’s name and his teaching will not be blasphemed.

• Paul is encouraging Christian slaves to be role models for the unbelieving masters.
• God’s kindness leads to repentance.

2 Let those who have believing masters not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but serve them even better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved.

• Sometimes we believe because we are working for a Christian boss that we don’t have to work as hard.
• We have the same rights that they do because we are both believers.
• We should have the desire to serve believing masters even more than others.

 
FALSE DOCTRINE AND HUMAN GREED
Teach and encourage these things. 3 If anyone teaches false doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness,

• 1) They must teach the Bible.
• Isaiah 8:20 -  Go to God’s instruction and testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there will be no dawn for them. [2]
• They are totally in the dark.
• Everything must filter through the 66 books.
• Don’t believe what I am saying.
• Filter my notes, interpretation, and opinions.

4 he is conceited and understands nothing but has an unhealthy interest in disputes and arguments over words.

• 2) There is an attitude that is conveyed.
• Proud vs humble
• Brain vs heart
• Argumentative vs listening and instructing.
• Conceited, ignorant and desired confrontation over the little things.
• This attitude destroys any sense of community.

From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain.

• The heretics viewed religion as a means of making a quick dollar.
• In character they were greedy and materialistic.
• Paul’s strong words described false teachers who exploited the church for their own ends without caring about the havoc they created[3]
• Do you not think Satan uses the same tactic today?
• One of the top reasons men don’t come to church.
• The church is always needing their next dollar.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

• Financial guys in the room.
• They have much more to offer than growing your account.
• There is a spirit about them.
• Even Cory…
• Ecclesiastes 1:18 - 18 For with much wisdom is much sorrow; as knowledge increases, grief increases.[4]

7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out.

• Job, David & Solomon all said this.

8 If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

• What is our level of contentment?
• “What do you want for Christmas?” “I’m good”
• Too many of us know the “price of everything and the value of nothing.”
• We are so glutted with luxuries that we have forgotten how to enjoy our necessities.[5]
• We have moved into a throw away society.
• If it’s broke… get a new one… even cars.

9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

• Money is not evil… it is the love of money that is evil.
• It is a dangerous thing to use religion as a cover-up for acquiring wealth.
• God’s laborer is certainly worthy of his hire (1 Tim. 5:17–18), but his motive for laboring must not be money.[6]
• “A” root… my trees have multiple roots.
• Where does that craving come from?...

 
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT
11 But you (Timothy - utter contrast), man of God (identity), flee from these things,

1. The word “flee” that Paul used here did not refer to literal running, but to Timothy’s separating himself from the sins of the false teachers.[7]

and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.

1. Separation without positive growth becomes isolation.[8]

• Character and conduct
• Gentleness… it is through kindness…

12 Fight the good fight of the faith.

• Present tense… continuous struggle.
• Who is this fight with?
• Ask this question every time you get in an argument?
• Who is real struggle against?
• The evil one

Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

• Paul was encouraging Timothy to fight through his timidity.

13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you 14 to keep this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Like a commander in the military giving orders.

15 God will bring this about in his own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal (not subject to death) and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power. Amen.

• Exodus 33:18-23 - 18 Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.”
• He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the Lord’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” 20 But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live.” 21 The Lord said, “Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock, 22 and when my glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.” [9]
• Colossians 1:27 – 27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.[10]

 
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE RICH
17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share, 19 storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life.
 

• Paul closes his letter to Timothy with this…

GUARD THE HERITAGE
20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent and empty speech and contradictions from what is falsely called knowledge. 21 By professing it, some people have departed from the faith.

• This is a great week for us to be reminded of our conversations and in who we put our trust.

 
Grace be with you all.[11]

• It is with us.
• Receive it and share it.

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 233–234). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Is 8:20). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 167). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Ec 1:18). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 235). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 235). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 235–236). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 236). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] Christian Standard Bible (Ex 33:18–23). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Christian Standard Bible (Col 1:27). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] Christian Standard Bible (1 Ti 6:1–21). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

63 AD
- Timothy sends word to Paul in Colosse that the Ephesian church is being ravaged by false teachers.
 
The “Boomer” generation has a hard time filtering truth from false.

• We grew up trusting everything we read, saw and heard.
• Now are world is saturated with deception.

 
DEMONIC INFLUENCE
1 TIMOTHY 4
1 Now the Spirit explicitly says (a prophecy that Paul had previously received) that in later times (this was in reference to the “end times” but Paul and Timothy thought they were already living in the end times) some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.

• “Depart from the faith” – apostasy
• Let’s look at that section of people who “depart from the faith.”
• Based upon filtering all 66 books, I believe one cannot lose their salvation.
• If that is the case, a mere profession of faith does not guarantee the actual possession of eternal life.[1]
• If they are believers, then they have a season of walking by their flesh.
• Many times you will see believers going in and out living by the Spirit or walking by their flesh.
• Is there a line? Where is the line? I’m not the judge.
• Wiersbe says: “A true church seeks to win converts to Jesus Christ and to build them spiritually; conversely, a cult proselytizes, steals converts from others, and makes them servants (even slaves!) of the leaders of the cult. However, not all apostates are in cults; some of them are in churches and pulpits, teaching false doctrine and leading people astray.”[2]
• The evil ones scheme is to water down the church.
• The evil one loves when we “play church”.
• Because there is definitely no freedom in that.
• I absolutely believed people are getting “saved”
• But at a miniscule rate.
• Imagine if they heard the Good News… and that was it.
• Then we add on all the “ministry teams”, “meetings”, titles (don’t get caught up in titles).
• It’s not about titles or responsibilities. Paul just finished talking about that in Chapter 3.
• We’ve become professional church planters, with good intentions but the wrong purpose.
• The evil one loves this…
• Mediocrity…
• Let’s be honest here… Leavener is not getting much bigger than this group right here.
• I didn’t expect it to be this big.
• When crisis comes, you typically turn your head to me or others in the room with wisdom and trust.
• On Thursday, at 4:40 PM, Stacy Christiansen called me…
• “I didn’t come for your future… I cam for your salvation.”
• “Rescued”
• Video of rescue
• I appreciate the vote of confidence, but the truth is I am not going to meet your needs and I am going to point you back to Jesus every time.
• I get you need your hand held… I need my hand held.
• I have 2 hands… the body of Christ has many.
• You have the same Spirit that I have. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.
• If we continue to “play church”, we consciously play into the devil’s hand.

3 They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth.

• They were demanding celibacy and for young widows to not remarry.
• They were sticking to laws of food that were “clean” and “unclean”

4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.
 
A GOOD SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST
6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the good teaching that you have followed.

• St. Patrick’s Day – Friday Night
• Michelle spent the evening trying to figure out what the Spirit is leading the women to study next.

7 But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness. 8 For the training of the body has limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

• We have to filter everything that is a resource because we are not looking for water-downed truth or false teaching that is weaved into truth.

9 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. 10 For this reason we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

• He doesn’t say we are going to sit still and do nothing.
• He doesn’t say we are going to do programs either.

 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR MINISTRY
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love,, in faith, and in purity. 13 Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. 14 Don’t neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. 15 Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.[3]

• Every Thursday Night for the last 10 years, my friend Joe would greet every person for dinner at 6:30 PM
• We’d pray and eat together as a family (15-40 people)
• At 7:25 he began to pass out questions that had been e-mailed over specific passage of Scripture we were studying.
• At 7:30 we circled around “Father Joe” and he greeted us… “Greetings from the WalMart parking lot.”
• Then he would tell a joke.
• Then we would read the Bible.
• Then we would process what it said by using the questions he prepared in advance.
• Then we would pray for each other.
• My brother modeled 1 Timothy 4.
• I can’t wait to hear, “Greetings from heaven…”

[1] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 129). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 224). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (1 Ti 4:1–16). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

• We left off in Paul’s letter with home focused on the centrality of Jesus Christ.
• Jesus is the foundation of everything we believe which impacts what we do.

 
PAUL’S MINISTRY
COLOSSIANS 1
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings

• For the sake of the Gospel… not something evil.

for you,

• You = Gentiles – the very word that got him in this situation of being arrested.

and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church.

• All Paul has done in his ministry years has been for the Church.
• The very body/people that he destroyed as a Pharisee.

25 I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.

• What is this mystery?
• That the Jews and Gentiles are one in Jesus.
• The difference between the Old and the New Covenant.
• During the Old Testament, a Gentile had to become a Jewish proselyte in order to share in the blessings of Israel.
• But in the New Covenant, Jews and Gentiles alike are saved by faith in Jesus Christ.[1]
• Romans 10:11–13 - For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, 12 since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.[2]

27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

• God's glory lives above and beyond any type of description or definition.
• You cannot accurately and fully describe in words the glory that Scripture declares.
• "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand?" (Isaiah 40:12).
• Go to your sink, turn it on, and see how much water you can cup in the palm of your hand before it starts spilling out.
• Then, consider that your God can hold all of the liquid in the universe and not spill a single drop!
• Where we chase after glory can vary, but one thing is for certain: this hunger for glory will never ever be satisfied by created things.
• Even if you could experience the most glorious situations, locations, relationships, experiences, achievements or possessions in this life, your heart still would not be satisfied.
• Creation has no capacity whatsoever to bring contentment to your heart.
• Only God can satisfy our hunger and give peace and rest to our hearts.

 

• Mayor Fadness had a breakfast on Wednesday concerning mental health in our community.
• It was actually stated that we don’t have an answer for the root cause of mental health.

 

• The reality is that we can't actually solve our own glory dysfunction.
• Many have tried; none have succeeded on their own.
• Our only hope is for the God of glory to invade our lives and rescue us.
• But not rescue us from culture or media or government – no, he needs to rescue us from us.

 

• This is why Jesus came to earth, lived righteously on our behalf, died for our dysfunction, then rose again conquering sin and death.
• In amazing grace, Jesus willingly came on a glory rescue mission, and because he did, there's hope for us.
• When we admit to our glory thievery and when we cry out for help for our dysfunction, we can finally be free from the never-satisfying quest for worldly glory and live forever in the light of the satisfying glory of God.[3]

28 We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom (the right use of knowledge), so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

• Galatians 3:8 - Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you.[4]

29 I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.

• It is hard work to walk by the Spirit.
• How do you even do that?
• Trust what you know… not what you feel?
• Feelings in your gut aren’t always true.
• Whose strength is it any way?

 
COLOSSIANS 2
1 For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling (praying) for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person.

• Prayer is not our trying to change God’s mind.
• It is learning what is the mind of God and asking accordingly.[5]
• It is a similar response for us as to the families in Texas this week.
• We are here and what are we able to do for them?
• It is Memorial Day, and what are we able to do for the families of the war dead?
• We never forget… and we pray.

2 I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ.

• The ultimate goal, for Paul, was to “know the mystery of God, namely Christ” in the fellowship of the church[6]
• “I want” – Paul is stating his purpose which comes from his heart. His passion.
• Paul speaks of intimate relationships and a unity which binds together those who walk in the truth[7]
• Think about the legalism and interpretation issues that were a part of Paul’s background.
• If you stay focused on the Truth… rather than the issues… you will have unforced unity.

3 In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

• Wisdom implies the ability to defend what we understand.
• Knowledge suggests the ability to grasp truth.
• All of these terms were also used by the gnostics.[8]
• The false teachers focused on wisdom; Paul focused on Christ.[9]

 
CHRIST VERSUS THE COLOSSIAN HERESY
4 I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable.

• Theologically, he was concerned that the Colossians not be deceived by “fine-sounding arguments.”
• The real threat was that they might be deceived by a fast line or by smooth talk.
• The church had to learn to see beyond the fine-sounding language of the heretics to the empty and damning arguments they were presenting.
• Thus, it was to grow in the knowledge of Christ to avoid the deceitful traps of heretical arguments.[10]
• Super Summer training for our students.

5 For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.

• Paul is so taken up with his pastoral task that he is with them ‘in spirit’.
• This means much more than ‘I am thinking of you’ for he feels he is one of them.
• Paul is united with them, committed to them, and commends them.[11]
• “Order” describes the arrangement of the army in ranks, with each soldier in his proper place.
• “strength” – “steadfastness” pictures the soldiers in battle formation, presenting a solid front to the enemy.[12]

6 So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, 7 being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.

• Picture of tree?
• A thankful spirit is a mark of Christian maturity. When a believer is abounding in thanksgiving, he is really making progress![13]
• I’ll hang around that person all day long!

8 Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.

• “captive” – pirated
• Paul’s ‘Beware’ alerts them to the seriousness of their situation and their need to be attentive to the possibility of their being misled through a false pursuit of wisdom and knowledge.
• Paul saw this influx of heresy as a planned, organized attack against Christian theology.[14]
• Paul is not speaking against philosophy in general, just the kind that contradicts the gospel message.[15]
• Here is a clue to the Colossian heresy. It included philosophy, traditions of men, science of the day, and worldly thinking.
• Paul is warning them about the kind of teaching that does nothing for the soul and negates the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is ‘not according to Christ’.
• The Colossian heresy promised much but because it was man-made it would not deliver. [16]
• True Christian philosophy “take[s] captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5)[17]

9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ,

• Apart from Him is emptiness.
• The very nature of God is fully present in Christ.
• The fullness refers to the completeness of the divine nature, but it does not mean that Christ is all there is of God.[18]

10 and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

• “filled by Him” – made complete
• This is not “positional”
• When Christ is in you (1:27) there is no room for another on the throne of your heart.[19]

11 You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,

• In the Old Testament, circumcision was the outward sign of the covenant made with Abraham and the seal of membership of the covenant people of God.
• The ‘spoilers’ said that converts must be circumcised, as it was essential to salvation.
• Gnostic legalism said that the Jewish Law would help the believers become more spiritual.
• If they were circumcised, and if they watched their diets and observed the holy days, then they would become part of the “spiritual elite” in the church.
• Unfortunately, we have people with similar ideas in our churches today.[20]
• But Paul taught that believers need not be circumcised in the flesh to be complete in Christ, as he fulfilled all the Old Testament’s types and shadows, making Judaism obsolete (Eph. 2:14).[21]
• God continually expresses concern for circumcision of the heart (Deut 10:16; Jer 4:4; Rom 2:29 – “On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly,  and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter.”[22])[23]
• Their sinful nature (NIV) (“the body of the flesh”) was decisively put off by Christ’s death and resurrection.
• The word (flesh) usually identified the moral principle which characterizes humanity.
• Thus, the statement here refers to putting off the fallenness that guides people naturally,[24]
• What people were in Adam—sinful, fallen, and corrupt—was destroyed by Christ.
• Now “in Christ” a believer is a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).
• And having a new Head a believer has a new authority for his life—not the Law of Moses but the life of Christ.[25]
• The NIV translation may confuse the English reader by calling the state of pre-Christian existence a “nature.”
• In fact, the term “nature” is an awkward one since it seldom communicates effectively.
• If the term “nature” means a characteristic way of acting, the translation “nature” is correct.
• At conversion, a believer begins to act a new way, giving evidence of a new nature.
• The term, however, is confusing because of the way it is often used by modern Christians.
• Many refer to an old nature and a new nature which are co-resident within the believer.
• Such an understanding confuses this passage.
• The old nature has been put off at the believer’s circumcision, and it is no longer present.[26]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 122). Victor Books.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Ro 10:11–13). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] https://www.paultripp.com/articles/posts/the-doctrine-of-glory-article?gclid=CjwKCAjws8yUBhA1EiwAi_tpERnCUSkwXBgbjyVkocW_FbVrR5Yr5QCcBKy88wfggxQpAviqBmvUJRoCQ10QAvD_BwE
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Ga 3:8). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 123). Victor Books.
[6] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (Vol. 32, p. 245). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[7] McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (p. 37). Leominster: Day One Publications.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 123). Victor Books.
[9] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (Vol. 32, p. 245). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[10] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 246). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[11] McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (p. 40). Leominster: Day One Publications.
[12] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:4). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[13] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:4). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[14] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 252). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[15] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Col 2:8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[16] McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (p. 42). Leominster: Day One Publications.
[17] Geisler, N. L. (1985). Colossians. (J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck, Eds.)The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 677). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[18] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 255). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[19] McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (p. 43). Leominster: Day One Publications.
[20] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:11). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[21] McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (p. 45). Leominster: Day One Publications.
[22] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ro 2:29). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[23] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Col 2:11). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[24] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 258). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[25] Geisler, N. L. (1985). Colossians. (J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck, Eds.)The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 677). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[26] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, pp. 258–259). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

• We start today with the 2nd part of Paul’s “Fool’s Speech”.
• Paul is continuing to explain his weakness.

 
PAUL AND THE FALSE APOSTLES
2 CORINTHIANS 11
32 In Damascus, a ruler under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to arrest me. 33 So I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands.[1]

• Paul had to escape the city in one of the lowest forms of exiting guarded city.
• There was no parade for Paul.

 
SUFFICIENT GRACE
2 Corinthians 12
1 Boasting is necessary. It is not profitable, but I will move on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

• Paul was “boasting” in the previous verses because that is what the professional speakers did.
• But Paul chose to boast about his weaknesses rather than his strengths which is totally opposite of the talented speakers.
• But now Paul is actually boasting about something positive.

2 I know a man in Christ who was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know; God knows.

• Paul is referring to himself but speaking in 3rd person because he doesn’t want to talk about himself like the “super Apostles”/false teachers.
• The Jews of the day in apocalyptic literature believed that there was a heavenly Jerusalem, and that heavenly Jerusalem had a heavenly tabernacle or temple, and it was laid out like the earthly tabernacle or temple.
• In fact, Hebrews talks about this in Hebrews 8, saying that when Moses built the tabernacle, he did it on the basis of looking into heaven itself, seeing the heavenly tabernacle, and kind of sketching that out and using that as the design for the earthly tabernacle.
• So here, Paul is giving that kind of Jewish apocalyptic idea of making this trip to heaven, and it seems that when he describes this experience, he is snatched up into the very presence of God, right into the throne room of God in heaven.
• God also honored Paul by taking him to heaven, and then sending him back to the earth again.
• This marvelous experience had taken place fourteen years before the writing of this letter, which would place the experience in about the year 43 AD.
• This would be the period in Paul’s life between his departure for Tarsus (Acts 9:30) and his visit from Barnabas (Acts 11:25–26).
• There is no record of the details of this event, and it is useless for us to speculate.[2]
• That’s the significance of the third heaven.[3]

3 I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know; God knows--4 was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not allowed to speak. 5 I will boast about this person, but not about myself, except of my weaknesses.

• Paul says the words are inexpressible because he does not want to focus on this story being about him and his experience.
• This is opposite of what the false teachers would have spoken about.
• The false teachers would have spoken about all the things they have experienced first-hand.
• It could also mean that God spoke words that could only be heard in heaven.
• If most people experienced this visit to heaven, they would have told people immediately.
• Paul waited 14 years to mention it.

6 For if I want to boast, I wouldn’t be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me, 7 especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself.

• The word “thorn” is actually referenced a few other times in the Scripture.
• In every case these refer to some form of opposition[4]
• It could have been a physical ailment: malaria, epilepsy or even an eye disease… or even a speech impediment.
• Possibly a psychological or mental health issue. Such as anxiety, depression or even sexual addiction.
• I personally believe that Paul is referring to his constant battle of teaching truth and being falsely accused by the Judaizers everywhere he went.
• When you look at this broader context in 11:22–12:10, if you’ll notice, the list is primarily talking about hardships involving persecution.[5]

8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”

• God did not give Paul an explanation, but He gave him a promise.

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

• A beautiful ending to Paul’s “Fool’s Speech” is referring to his power is perfected in his weakness so the Good News could be advanced.
• When you get down to bottom and realize the only option you have is God… you are probably in a great spot.
• When you no longer have the ability to make the same unsuccessful choices… repeatedly…
• Then maybe it’s time to give up on you making the choices and let the holy living God who resides in you… to make your choices for you.

 
SIGNS OF AN APOSTLE
11 I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

• Paul is speaking to a minority in the Church at Corinth.
• The majority have already gotten on board with Paul.
• He’s just referring to a few people who have continued to listen to the false teachers.
• So Paul had to speak “foolishly” because that is what they have been attracted to.
• Paul is directly saying to them, “You should have already got in line and not made me deliver this foolish message.

12 The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles. 13 So in what way are you worse off than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me for this wrong!

• What validated great speakers/teachers in the Corinth society (an even today) is the amount of money that was given to support their ministry.
• Paul did not do this.
• He did not take money from the Church in Corinth and they saw this as an insufficiency in Paul’s ministry.
• If he would have taken the money, he would have more credibility in society.

 
PAUL’S CONCERN FOR THE CORINTHIANS

• We can understand the whole structure of 2 Corinthians on the basis of them getting ready—getting ready by embracing his authentic ministry, getting ready by taking up the collection for Jerusalem, and getting ready by dealing with the false teachers in 10–13.[6]

14 Look, I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

• Paul is not planning on changing his ministry ways.
• He wants to support and give to the Church at Corinth.

15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for you., If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 Now granted, I did not burden you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit!

• Paul is being sarcastic here.
• He is actually saying that he did opposite of what the false teachers did.
• He did not use their tactics… which they thought were honest.

17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those I sent you? 18 I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit and in the same footsteps?

• He sent others to minister to them as well and they patterned their ministry after Paul as well.
• Titus and others did not take anything from the Church at Corinth.
• Everything Paul and his team of ministers did was done with integrity.

19 Have you been thinking all along that we were defending ourselves to you? No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.

• Paul wanted to clarify that he was not defending his ministry or style of ministry.
• He was explaining how they have done ministry with authenticity and integrity.
• It was more about the ministry to the Church than it was about Paul’s personal ministry.

20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and you may not find me to be what you want. Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

• Paul is wanting the Church at Corinth to all be on the same page when he arrives.
• The Church is less than 5 years old.
• The Church is made up of many different house churches and many different teachings.
• He wanted them all in unison.

21 I fear that when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they practiced.[7]

• Paul is encouraging transparency and community.
• Moral impurity, sexual immorality and sensuality are not just Corinth’s issues.
• They seem to be every society’s issue.

This is a basic plea by Paul to stay focused on Jesus by the renewing of our minds.

[1] Christian Standard Bible (2 Co 11:1–33). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 673). Victor Books.
[3] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[4] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[5] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[6] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (2 Co 12:1–21). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

• I start with asking the question, “What are you passionate about?”
• How does that affect your words or behavior?

 

• Paul focuses in on how he is weak in the sense of being persecuted, pouring his life out, [and] living a life that was really like a slave’s life in some ways in terms of the work he had to do [and] the type of life he had to live.
• And he does this “Fool’s Speech” to set his form of ministry, which is sacrificial, over against the false ministry of these interlopers in Corinth who are trying to stand up and present themselves as powerful people in the culture—people who have money, people who have position. Paul says that’s not really what Christian ministry is about.[1]

PAUL AND THE FALSE APOSTLES
2 CORINTHIANS 11
1 I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me!

• The process that he uses here is basically a plea. In verse 1 he’s going to say, “Come on, guys. Bear with me. Bear with me.” “Work with me here” is really what he’s saying.[2]

2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure virgin to Christ.

• Paul wants to make sure that the Corinthians are doctrinally pure [and] that they are not getting off into theologically dangerous and destructive beliefs because of buying into the teaching of these false teachers.
• It’s actually the kind of jealousy where you feel very deep emotions because you are deeply interested in the welfare of someone.

3 But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!

• “You guys are not approaching this situation with these false teachers from a wisdom standpoint, from a biblical standpoint. You’re buying into their foolishness.”
• These are not valid Christian teachers who just differ with Paul in approach. He says that they are preaching another Jesus; they’re preaching under the influence of a different spirit, and they are preaching a different gospel than the true gospel.
• Often people use that word “tolerance” to say that we ought to accept everybody no matter what.[3]

5 Now I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”

• someone who did not have extensive training.[4]

6 Even if I am untrained in public speaking, I am certainly not untrained in knowledge. Indeed, we have in every way made that clear to you in everything.

• He points out here that what he is especially good at is communicating knowledge or truth.
• He’s saying that “Even though I have chosen not to use flowery rhetorical ability here, I have taught you faithfully.”[5]

7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you.

• He actually uses missions funds from Macedonia to support his ministry in Corinth.[6]

9 When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, since the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way.

• He does not want to be obligated to any power person in Corinth to promote their agenda.[7]

10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do!

• If you want me to boast about something, I’m going to boast about the fact that I’m not taking money from you.[8]

12 But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals in what they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.

• Well, he says, “I’m going to carry out a pattern of ministry that makes what I’m doing and my gospel very distinct from the approach of these false teachers.
• I want you to see very clearly that we are not doing the same thing.
• It’s not simply a choice between gospel ministry A and gospel ministry B.”
• Paul says, “Their form of ministry is false.
• They are false apostles, they are deceitful, [and] they are just disguised as apostles of Christ.”
• And he says this fits their character perfectly.
• Whereas Paul himself follows the pattern of Christ, these false teachers follow the pattern of Satan.
• You can have people who come and minister in a church, and they’re using the right words.
• They present themselves as really concerned about righteousness, and yet, when you dig a little bit deeper in what is going on with them, there are red flags there that point to the fact that they’re really not authentic ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ.[9]

 
PAUL’S SUFFERINGS FOR CHRIST
16 I repeat: Let no one consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool so that I can also boast a little. 17 What I am saying in this matter of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but as it were, foolishly. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will also boast.

• The process here that he uses is direct confrontation. He is saying, “You guys are doing something that is inappropriate.”
• And it’s really a beautiful piece of rhetoric that he is using here, and he gets into a bit of sarcasm, actually, where he is saying things on the surface like he’s applauding them, but really, what he’s doing is he is chastising them.
• He is really confronting them very directly with how bad it is that they are welcoming these false teachers in their midst.[10]

19 For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools! 20 In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone is arrogant toward you, if someone slaps you in the face. 21 I say this to our shame: We have been too weak for that!

• A slave’s status was the lowest status in the culture—“if these false teachers eat up your resources; if they gobble down the resources that you have, then you applaud them. You think that that’s great. If they just swallow you whole, you think that’s a great thing.”
• So, in essence, in this whole section of 2 Corinthians, I think Paul is directly addressing that minority who are still interacting with the false teachers, and he’s really interacting and directing his comments toward those false teachers themselves.
• He never addresses them directly because he doesn’t want to dignify them, but he is always having his words aimed at those guys in the background.[11]

But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare: 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham? So am I.

• Paul is identifying with the false teachers.
• They must be the Judeizers that have persistently followed Paul’s ministry.

23 Are they servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, many times near death.

• Now Paul distinguishes the differences between them and himself.
• Power vs weakness.
• Paul is presenting that he is superior because of his weaknesses… pure foolishness.
• This is the whole Gospel… it is foolishness to the world.

24 Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. 26 On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; 27 toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. 28 Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.

• Paul is dealing with anxiety because of his passion for the Church.
• What search committee would present Paul as a candidate for church leadership based upon this resume?

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
30 If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying.

• Here is a man who had it all as a Pharisee.
• Gave it all up for a life of weakness and misery.
• He was beaten by both the Jews and the Gentiles.
• Around 400 AD, Augustine said there two kinds of pastors: those who cared for their flock and others who sit in it to gratify themselves by temporal honors and worldly advantages.[12]
• It happened in the early church. It happened in 400 AD and it is still happening today.
• Most likely, the ones who Paul is adamant against would probably never teach this passage.

[1] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[2] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[3] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[4] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[5] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[6] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[7] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[8] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[9] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[10] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[11] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[12] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.

• In 2 Corinthians 8–9, Paul is challenging the Corinthians to be involved in the ministry of giving.
• He is wanting them to take up the collection that is going to minister to the church in Jerusalem.
• The process that he carries out here is unpacking a number of OT passages that actually give principles for how a person or a church is supposed to give.[1]

APPEAL TO COMPLETE THE COLLECTION
2 CORINTHIANS 9
6 The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.

• This idea comes from:
• Proverbs 22:8 - The one who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.[2]
• Hosea 8:7 - Indeed, they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. [3]
• You are going to get what out of it whatever you put into it.
• Romans study.

7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion (not by feelings or pressure), since God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. 9 As it is written:
He distributed freely;
he gave to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever. (Psalm 112:9)
10 Now the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

• “This ministry that you’re carrying out”—he’s talking there about the ministry of giving; of being involved in meeting the needs of other people.
• He says, “It is not only doing that—it’s not only meeting people’s needs—but it’s also having a bigger impact so that people are being made thankful to God because of the ministry that’s being stimulated in this context of faithful giving.”

13 Because of the proof provided by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone.

• They are using money as a tool for the advancement of the kingdom—it is a form of confession of agreeing that the good news of Jesus Christ is true, and their lives are manifesting the truth of the gospel by the way they are handling their resources.[4]
• It comes down to trusting the principle of the harvest.

14 And as they pray on your behalf, they will have deep affection for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

• We have much to celebrate because of what God is doing through you.
• Contribution statements
• Voice Message from Logan

 
PAUL’S APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY

• Now, in chapters 10–13, we hear a very different tone from Paul because he is confronting, and he’s even sarcastic at places.[5]
• He is confronting the false teachers.

2 CORINTHIANS 10
1 Now I, Paul, myself, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble among you in person but bold toward you when absent. 2 I beg you that when I am present I will not need to be bold with the confidence by which I plan to challenge certain people who think we are living according to the flesh.

• When Paul founded the church at Corinth, his purpose was to exalt Christ and not himself (1 Cor. 2:1–5).
• Christians usually grow the way they are born. If they are born in an atmosphere of dictatorial leadership, they grow up depending on man’s wisdom and strength.
• If they are born in an atmosphere of humility and love, they learn to depend on the Lord.
• Paul wanted his converts to trust the Lord, and not the servant; so he deliberately “played down” his own authority and ability.[6]

3 For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, 4 since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds.

• The language that he uses here is of a specific kind of warfare, and it is called siege warfare.
• In the ancient world, if you had a city, normally you built a large wall around the city as the major line of defense.
• And therefore, when you were fighting an enemy and you were going to capture a city, what you had to do is lay siege to the city.
• Ephesians 6:12 - 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.[7]

We demolish arguments 5 and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. 6 And we are ready to punish any disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

• Notice that Paul’s emphasis is on issues of the thoughts.
• Theological issues are really critical in what is going on because people are going to live out of the way they think.
• So Paul talks about tearing down the wall of their ideas.
• Secondly, capturing the enemy soldiers was a second step in siege warfare.
• Paul says, “We take every thought captive, resulting in obedience to Christ.” And then he says, [essentially,] that once that happens, “What we are going to do is we are going to, in essence, prosecute the enemy soldiers.”
• Paul says, “We stand ready to punish every disobedient act once your obedience is complete.”[8]

7 Look at what is obvious. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, let him remind himself of this: Just as he belongs to Christ, so do we.

• He starts with “If anyone has convinced himself.”
• One of the ways that Paul refers to these false teachers is by using a very ambiguous idea of “anyone” or a certain person.
• He does not even do them the dignity of naming them; he just leaves it kind of ambiguous.
• And he says, [essentially,] “If these people are claiming to be from Christ, they need to consider the fact that we really are from Christ.”[9]

8 For if I boast a little too much about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be put to shame.

• The false teachers were boasting about their own accomplishments.
• Paul is boasting in the Lord who gave him the authority over teaching the Corinthians.

9 I don’t want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters. 10 For it is said, “His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak and his public speaking amounts to nothing.” 11 Let such a person consider this: What we are in our letters, when we are absent, we will also be in our actions when we are present.

• Evidently, people were saying, “Yeah, Paul can write these really powerful letters.”
• And people get this response going through these powerful letters, but then they go on and point out he’s really “a pushover in person, and his public speaking is disgraceful.”
• Public speakers, and so much of that kind of professional speaker tradition was about looking good and speaking powerfully and being able to move people with your words.
• But they were often criticized as having very little content in their speaking.
• They just can really wow the crowd, but they really don’t have a biblical content and theological content in what they’re doing.
• In chapter 13, he’s going to point out that when he arrives in Corinth, the power of Christ is going to bring these people in line.[10]

12 For we don’t dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they lack understanding.

• He says that they are overstepping ministry boundaries; they’re getting into areas that they have not been assigned by the Lord.
• The boasting these opponents were doing involved them commending themselves in a way that they were standing up and they were bragging about their own accomplishments.
• Paul says they were classifying and comparing themselves to each other.
• And this is a human standard, where we’re tempted to kind of line ourselves up next to somebody else and say, “Look how great I am” by perhaps tearing them down.
• So you have the standards there very much on a human level.
• So what these false teachers are doing is they are comparing themselves by others who are kind of in their own league, and Paul is saying that’s really not an appropriate spiritual way to think about who is qualified for ministry.
• He actually calls these guys “clueless.”
• He says [that] when the false teachers are playing this comparison game with one another, it basically is showing that they are spiritually dull-headed.
• They really don’t get spiritual perception and discernment.
• So he is saying that this is not the right way to approach Christian ministry—to compare yourself with others.
• There’s another standard that needs to be in play, and that is what the Lord considers worthy of boasting about.[11]

13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure but according to the measure of the area of ministry that God has assigned to us, which reaches even to you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we had not reached you, since we have come to you with the gospel of Christ. 15 We are not boasting beyond measure about other people’s labors. On the contrary, we have the hope that as your faith increases, our area of ministry will be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel to the regions beyond you without boasting about what has already been done in someone else’s area of ministry. 17 So let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord., 18 For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but the one the Lord commends. [12]

• In other words, “Let’s not play this comparison game that these false teachers are doing.
• Let’s focus on the work of God and be faithful in the work that God has given us to do and allow the Lord to commend us rather than us trying to just brag about our own accomplishments.”[13]

[1] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Pr 22:8). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Ho 8:7). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[5] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 664). Victor Books.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (Eph 6:12). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[9] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[10] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[11] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.
[12] Christian Standard Bible (2 Co 9:6–10:18). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[13] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Lexham Press.