Today the Daily Office begins the First Letter to Timothy. This letter is known as a “pastoral” meaning that its purpose is to instruct its reader on the proper governance and direction of a faith community. Timothy, you may recall, was Paul’s associate in ministry, who was mentored by Paul, and who became an episcopos (Greek for overseer, a bishop).
Here is the opening of the letter:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, my loyal child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine, and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training that is known by faith. But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately. This means understanding that the law is laid down not for the innocent but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers, fornicators, sodomites, slave-traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Tim. 1: 1-17).
Paul tells Timothy to watch out for teachers of false doctrine in his community, those who occupy themselves with something other than God’s Word. The aim of instruction, he tells Timothy, “is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.” For Paul, the knowledge of God’s deep love came from the experience of his own conversion. Paul says that he was “formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence.” Then he encountered the living Christ, and “received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” He realized that he could not attain salvation of his own, and that despite all of his failings, God still loved him and forgave him welcoming Paul as his own. For this Paul is thankful.
Today let us pray in thanksgiving for God’s saving grace given to each and every one of us. Let us pray: Gracious Father, we thank you for the gift of your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose from death in order that we might live. Send your Holy Spirit to make us ever thankful for the gifts you have given to us, even when times may be difficult. Amen.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially for Betty Head and her family, Cotele Singleton who is in the hospital, for Tammie Taylor, and for all of those who are travelling, especially Bill Taylor.
Here is the opening of the letter:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, my loyal child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine, and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training that is known by faith. But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately. This means understanding that the law is laid down not for the innocent but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers, fornicators, sodomites, slave-traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Tim. 1: 1-17).
Paul tells Timothy to watch out for teachers of false doctrine in his community, those who occupy themselves with something other than God’s Word. The aim of instruction, he tells Timothy, “is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.” For Paul, the knowledge of God’s deep love came from the experience of his own conversion. Paul says that he was “formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence.” Then he encountered the living Christ, and “received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” He realized that he could not attain salvation of his own, and that despite all of his failings, God still loved him and forgave him welcoming Paul as his own. For this Paul is thankful.
Today let us pray in thanksgiving for God’s saving grace given to each and every one of us. Let us pray: Gracious Father, we thank you for the gift of your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose from death in order that we might live. Send your Holy Spirit to make us ever thankful for the gifts you have given to us, even when times may be difficult. Amen.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially for Betty Head and her family, Cotele Singleton who is in the hospital, for Tammie Taylor, and for all of those who are travelling, especially Bill Taylor.
WHAT A JOYOUS PENTECOST YESTERDAY! "Come Holy Ghost our Hearts Inspire!" Please remember to pray for the newly baptized, their Godparents and their families.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
12 June: Gospel by the Sea.
11:00 a.m. every Sunday in the nave, Adult Christian Formation: Heaven and Hell: Angels With Harps, Demons With Pitchforks? Or Maybe Something Else?
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
No comments:
Post a Comment