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2 Timothy 3.1-9 is another one of those “last days” passages that our Christian brothers often take as applicable here and now, as if we are in the last days. But as I showed in the last Weekly Perspective, “last days” has a wide pedigree in the Bible, such as in Joel 2, Acts 2, Hebrews 1, and it is clear from Acts 2 and Hebrews 1 that Peter and Paul are talking about events in “their” day.

The same is true here in 2 Timothy 3. Paul says that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. Is he warning us, 2000 years later? Well, no he isn’t; he is warning Timothy about their day and time so that Timothy is a better pastor and won’t be caught off guard. Again, the context alerts us to the faithful reading.

Paul mentions in verse 2 that people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, etc. What does he say about such people in verse 5? Avoid them! Avoid them because they will mislead you, Timothy, and pervert your ministry! Then Paul goes on to judge these men, saying they won’t get very far, for their folly will be plain to all. How so? Because these men oppose the truth, men who are disqualified regarding their faith. Paul is speaking in the present tense about these men, warning Timothy to avoid them. In contrast to the men of verse 1-9, Paul praises Timothy for having followed his teaching, conduct, faith, patience, etc. in verses 10-11. Timothy is contrasted with the living wicked of his day who suffer shipwreck of faith.

How do we apply these passages today? Well, there are still wicked people around and they still can and do attack pastors and spoil their ministries. Present day pastors, and their flocks, should avoid them!

1 Timothy 4:1-5 is another one of those passages that Christians often get snookered by, because they don’t know the context. Paul is talking about the later times, how bad things will be, and other Christians read that and turn to you and say, “We are in the last days; this passage sounds just like what is happening today. Start looking for the rapture or the antichrist! The Spirit says so!”

But is Paul talking about our day, or future days? How do we answer that question? By reading the context! Paul does say that in later times some will depart from the faith by failing to be faithful. So he warns Timothy to mention those things to his flock. Verse 6: “If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.”

Notice what Paul directs Timothy to do: tell and explain to the brothers alive in that day in Timothy’s ministry, about what the Spirit says would happen in the later times. Why? Because Timothy and Paul are living in the later times! Paul is clear that those things are happening in Timothy’s day, and he needs to warn his hearers. The warnings are not really for our day, but for Timothy’s day. Yes, our culture does look like that somewhat, which means we can learn to apply the passage today in our situation. But we aren’t living in the “later times” as they did.

So what are the “later times”? Based on the similar phrase “last days” in Joel 2, Acts 2, Hebrews 1, etc., and Jesus’ discussion of the end of the old covenant temple and worship in Matthew 24, the “later times” are referring to the days of the end of the old covenant around 66-70 AD. Days long gone for us!

Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that you be not judged” is one of the most misquoted passages in the bible, and used often against Christians by unbelievers when the subject of sin or obedience or faithfulness comes up. “Don’t judge lest you be judged!” They quote it to shut down any judgment at all. “You’re being judgmental; the bible says to ‘judge not.’ You Christians are all hypocrites.”

Then the witnessing moment ends because the believer doesn’t know what to say.

But let’s look at the context; is Jesus really saying, Don’t judge at all? Not at all! In fact, in the following verses He tells you to judge. He tells you to “see” the speck in your brother’s eye, but to first make a judgment and take out the log in your own eye. Yes, Jesus is against hypocrisy. But he is not against judging correctly.

In fact, Jesus goes on to command several more instances of judging (6): don’t give to dogs what is holy, and don’t throw pearls before pigs. You have to make assessments of situations and how to act in them.

In verse 13 Jesus commands you to make a judgment about gate size, so you don’t end up in destruction: enter by the narrow gate. In verses 15ff, Jesus also mentions being aware of false prophets, and that you are to “recognize” them by their fruits. You are to judge their fruits, whether it is good or bad; He doesn’t want you to get eaten up by those ravenous wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing!

So Christians are to follow the Lord in making judgments; but we are to make sure we do so in truth and not hypocritically.

Reading the context around a particular verse makes all the difference in its interpretation, and will keep you from being misled by popular false opinions..

For instance, I Timothy 2.1-7 includes the phrases “who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” and “…Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all…” Most evangelicals think this a great foundation for believing in universal salvation: “God desires all people to be saved! God is loving and caring! What God desires, He gets,” so they say. And, Jesus died for everyone!

But not all are saved, such as Lamech who boasted taking ten-fold revenge over God, King Saul, and Judas. A real dilemma appears: God is not able to save everyone, being weak, and the blood of Jesus is not strong enough to save everyone. But maybe the passage isn’t about universal salvation in the first place!

In fact the passage isn’t speaking about the salvation of all people who have ever lived. We know this by looking at the context. First of all, verse 6 mentions that Jesus was “the testimony given at the proper time.” Secondly, Paul goes on to mention that he was “appointed a preacher and an apostle, a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.” Paul was brought on the scene at the appropriate time in biblical history to bring the Gentiles into the kingdom (cf. Ephesians 2). So the passage is not talking about universal salvation, but about God extending the Good News of the gospel to the whole world in Paul’s day, and not just to the Jews! So “all people” means not just Jews, but also Gentiles, which is everyone at that time. God desires people saved of all the nations, both of Jews and Gentiles; it doesn’t mean every soul who ever lived. Hey, that’s in line with the Great Commission!

“Male and Female”: where have you heard that phrase before? Well, in Genesis 1 when God creates man and woman, male and female, Adam and Eve. Also, in Matthew 19 when Jesus responds to the hard-hearts of the Pharisees regarding divorce, reminding them that the Creator “from the beginning made them male and female.” The Apostle Paul notes in Galatians 3 that in our baptisms we have “put on Christ” and are all Sons of God such that there is “neither slave nor free, nor male nor female, for you are all one in Christ.” Definitely a biblical phrase!

But this phrase, “Male and Female;” where have you heard that lately? From none other than President Trump when he ended federal support for transgender sports and all the other nonsense uses of transgender ideology. This past week, Health and Human Services revised their definitions: two sexes, male and female.

President Trump said his decision was based on “common sense” and “science.” Which is true because we live in God’s world. Look around, and you only see two sexes: male and female.

But when we as Christians discuss this issue with fellow believers and unbelievers (and our kids), let’s be honest and truthful and witness for Jesus Christ — it’s his Created standard! It’s God’s design for the world, and always has been.

Adam and Eve are just the type; “male and female” picture also Jesus and his bride, the church. Jesus and his love for his bride sets the standard for husbands, males, loving their wives, females (Ephesians 5:25ff). If we equivocate on this, we lose our very salvation: Jesus dying for his bride to save her. Let’s not abandon the Greatest Love Story ever told!

Finishing out our short look at Psalm 16, we find that David is not only making requests of the Lord while trusting in him, he is also celebrating his security of being in the Lord’s care: “Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.” David is glad; he is merry of heart. From his bowels to his hairline, he is in a joyful mood and acknowledging to himself what a favored position he enjoys. He is, as we say, a happy camper!

And why shouldn’t he be? For he knows that, “my flesh also dwells secure.” God’s presence with him means he is secure in his person, in his status before God and man, in his pursuits, and even in the eternal future.

We know this because he pens the phrase spoken of Jesus in Acts 2 and 13: “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.” God won’t let Satan or the Serpent have him; no, the Lord will keep his embodied soul forever as one! Paul makes that point in Acts 13:34: “corruption” was being dead; but God raised Jesus from the dead, ending that “corruption.” In faith, David “sees” not death eternally, but life with Yahweh, Jesus being Yahweh in the flesh.

We know David is thinking this because of the last phrases, which all interpret each other: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” The path of life is in the Lord’s presence. At the Lord’s Kingly right hand are pleasures forevermore.

This is true of you today, as you dine with Jesus, uniting yourself to him in faith as you eat the bread and drink the wine. Like David, you say repeatedly to Jesus, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you” (vs 2). In fact, every time you eat at Jesus’ table, you embody David’s faith: “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup” (vs. 5). How wonderful is that? So be glad in Jesus, and let your whole being rejoice, because in him you dwell secure (vs 9).

Continuing in Psalm 16, we find that David is not shy about where he places his trust: “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.” David is, out loud, saying he has consciously chosen to follow Yahweh. In fact, Yahweh is his food and drink, his portion and his cup. His chosen fellowship is with Yahweh himself, tasting that He is good; he is not out running after other gods. But while affirming his choice, he is also submissive and respectful: Yahweh holds me in his hands. My fate is in his hands.

Is David upset or dismissive of the Lord holding his lot? Not at all; he is quite grateful and thankful. “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” Would that we would all follow David’s lead! When he surveys his life and his planting, he is happy where God has led him and placed him. It is beautiful. When was the last time you praised the Lord for where he has led you and planted you? Do you agree that your inheritance is beautiful? How can it not be, having been orchestrated by He who brings you all good (vs. 2)?

This Psalm is suffused with God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility (“I chose the Lord, and he holds my lot”), and we see that again in the next two phrases or verses, in an ABAB pattern. “I bless Yahweh who gives me counsel…I have set Yahweh always before me.” David is actively living by faith in Yahweh; he blesses him and keeps him front and center in his thoughts and actions. At the same time, he is reliant upon Yahweh for counsel and for confidence: “in the night also my heart instructs me…because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” Using Hebrew poetic parallelism, we understand that the night instruction comes from Yahweh who is at his right hand. David is faithful, and Yahweh gives comfort of presence (“right hand”) and confidence in the task or battle (“I shall not be shaken”).

May you follow David’s example this week! (to be continued).

Everybody has a favorite Psalm, and for most Christians, that is Psalm 23. It does a lot of heavy lifting, for sure. Others prefer the Messianic Psalms, (2, 72, or 110). But Psalm 16 is like the 18-wheeler of Psalms: highly encouraging.

It opens with a request and a statement of faith: “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.” That should get your faith juiced right from the beginning: I’m in God’s hand, and I am trusting Him!

The second phrase again elicits a statement of faith, as well as focusing the believer’s trust in God’s good care and love: “I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’” Expressing your faith in Jesus is good to do, of course, but so also is recognizing that in Him rests all the goodness you’re going to find in life. That’s an encouraging and truthful reaffirmation of faith.

The third phrase opens the corporate vista to your eyes of faith: “As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” The Christian faith and life is more inclusive and broader than just you and Jesus; it includes the church; your brothers and sisters as well. And they are the ones you look to for examples of faithfulness and delight! Have you been doing that lately? Are you delighting in the wonderful, Jesus-bearing, light-bearing, loving saints around you?

In contrast to the faithful and excellent family that surrounds you in the corporate body of Christ, you have the foolishness and wickedness of those who pursue idolatry: “The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offering of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.” This is a clear statement of differentiation, of judgment: I will not be hanging out with those people, nor considering them the excellent ones. In fact, I won’t even be mentioning them! The hymn “Who is On the Lord’s Side” comes to mind! (to be continued).

Dear St. Mark Saints,

Thank you for your prayers and support over the last two months. The Lord is hearing and answering in the hoped for direction so far. I thought I would share a small snippet as to how they are affecting me, as a means to encourage you in your walk with the Lord Jesus.

This week, just minutes before beginning a procedure that has a long list of side effects from seizures to strokes to kidney dialysis to death, and the whole kitchen sink in between (you know how those medical consent forms list EVERYTHING!), I was looking in the mirror and said, “Lord, into your hands I commit my future and life. If you want me in heaven today, I’m ready. Or later.” But then I stopped and thought, “Wait a minute; that’s a silly statement! I’ve always already been in the Lord’s hand, from my conception till now. I’m a son of the covenant; I’m a covenantal son! Jesus has lovingly shepherded and guided me to this point, and will do so forever.” So then I stopped and started thanking the Lord for always having been with me my whole life, grateful that He’s always been my Lord and Protector and Shepherd.

I share all this to encourage you this week to not only ask the Lord’s blessing for your week, but also to remember to thank Him that He’s been with you all along, holding your hand and guiding you through life’s difficulties and trials, which is why we can consider even our trials as joy inexpressible. Jesus is shaping them for our growth and maturity and dependence upon Him. What an amazing Lord we serve and are surrounded by!

As this new year begins, we’ve witnessed a lot of hope for the renewal of American culture from the incoming political class. But America can’t be renewed from within because we are a sinful, bankrupt nation that does not worship Jesus as Lord. As a culture, we refuse to mention the name of the true Lord of the world, Jesus Christ. Have you seen a bumper sticker that says “Jesus Bless America”? And we banished the Ten Commandments from the schools and halls of government institutions, and sue those who try to bring them back (Judge Moore).

America, in order to be renewed, must go through a death and resurrection. We are in the death throes, culturally, and yet resurrection is already on the scene. But the City of Man is not yet looking to the City of God in its midst, because the City of Man still believes it is alive and able to self-renew.

Where is this resurrection? Right in your midst this morning! Centered in the worship of the real and true king, Jesus. It’s in the liturgy that expresses God’s grace and salvation, not the state’s. It’s in us, the church, that believes it has died and been resurrected in union with Jesus at our baptism (Romans 6.1-4). It’s in marriage informed by God’s word where it is the happiest state for men and women. It’s in each spouse who has died to their own desires and lives for the other. It’s in parents dying to the world’s selfish ideas of happiness and believing Jesus that children are a blessing and a reward and that maturity is a blessing, not immaturity. It’s in husbands dying to themselves and instead providing for and protecting their families. It’s in Christians one-anothering each other and that spilling over and out to the unbelieving neighbors. It’s in men choosing careers where they can obey Jesus in their work rather than choosing careers for money where they have to sell their souls to the Christ-cancelling culture. It’s in Christians who understand the gospel is “Jesus is Lord” and that what motivates and binds a culture is fidelity to worshipping Jesus and trusting His word in all walks of life.

You get the point. So Onward, Christian Soldiers!

Yes, Christmas is over, at least in the West; our Eastern brothers are still celebrating! But it’s not really over, at least the import of it, because of the political nature of Christ’s birth: He was born a King, and worshipped as a King, and as we all know, Herod was not too happy with that (as neither was Pharaoh, who killed a lot of baby boys so they wouldn’t rise up and be king, either).

But at the end of his life, the political authorities were still not too happy with Jesus the King. The Jewish leaders were incensed at Pilate for writing “King of the Jews” and placing the placard on his cross. That was after Pilate also had some misgivings about Jesus being a King who could muster all the armies he wanted.

This is because the unbelieving mind always understands political rule in a particular way — as coercion and tyranny and the imposition of right-handed power. This kind of political power and rule breaks the two greatest commandments: it doesn’t love God and it doesn’t love its neighbors. But what was the life of Jesus all about, if it wasn’t loving God his Father and his neighbors as himself?

Which implicates YOU right along with Jesus, because you are in Jesus and you wear his name! As we celebrate the life of Jesus the next six months or so, we are implicating ourselves as Jesus People who follow the Way, which means we shouldn’t be surprised if we gain the attention of the political rulers/cancel crowd/fact-checkers in the same manner as Jesus did: by loving the Father and loving neighbors as ourselves. Unbelieving political rulers don’t really like that; it’s a challenge to their rule. Yes, and so was Jesus! Being a merry wine-bibber really gets under their skin! May Jesus use it and us to bring them to true worship!

(From the newsletter “friends of Theopolis”)

Angels make periodic appearances in the Old Testament, but nowhere is there as thick a cluster as at the beginning of the gospel story. Angels appear to Joseph (repeatedly). Gabriel visits Zacharias and Mary. Angelic hosts sing to shepherds near Bethlehem. It’s fitting. Angels’ natural habitat is heaven. Whenever an angel appears on earth, he brings a bit of heaven with him. He is a bit of heaven.

Christmas angels offer a glimpse of Jesus’ mission.

After Adam’s sin, earth ceases to harmonize with the music of heaven or keep in step with the dance of the angels. Adam untunes creation.

In Jesus, heaven invades earth to restore it to heavenly harmony. Jesus retunes earth to heaven.

There’s resistance. As soon as the angelic choir makes its appearance, Satan and demons mount resistance to preserve the dissonant noise.

The Advent of the Son is the beginning of the last great battle between heaven and hell, with earth as the battlefield. Heaven wins! Jesus will win, yes. But also: He has won, casting Satan from heaven.

Incarnation is invasion. Jesus comes as Captain of the Father’s hosts to conquer earth and annex it to the empire of heaven. Because we live on the other side of His definitive victory, we live Christmas every day.

As we do the will of God on earth as it is in heaven, we extend the harmony of angelic song, looking for the day when heaven and earth merge in perfect polyphony.

Merry Christmas from Theopolis!
Peter Leithart