Christopher L. Scott

If one of the marks of an authentic disciple of Jesus Christ is encouraging other disciples, then it makes sense that disciples gather regularly with one another. That topic is addressed by the author of the book of Hebrews in Hebrews 10:23–25.

            Apparently, there was a failure to gather. The author writes, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some” (Heb 10:25a).[1]It appears some people deliberately decided not to gather[2] and had been absent from the church. These people were capable of attending the worship gatherings but had decided not to attend them.

            It appears this deliberate decision not to gather was habitual. The word “forsaking” is translated from the Greek word, egkataleipontes. This word means “to separate connection with someone or something”[3] and is often translated as “forsake,” “abandon,” or “desert.”[4] The verb is used here in what’s called a “customary present participle,” which describes a regular action that is iterative or repeated.[5]

            The decision not to gather was deliberate, habitual, and it appears this decision to not gather was also communal.This is not one person but a group. Perhaps there was a community of believers that left the Christian faith and returned back to a form of Judaism.[6]

            Choosing not to gather with other Christians was a dangerous choice for first-century Christians. Thus far we have seen the problem addressed in Hebrews 10:25a, but was this also a problem in that first-century culture? The religious culture of the Greeks and Romans believed in many gods. People sought to please and appease those gods for health, prosperity, protection, and victory in wars. This attempt to make the gods happy was done as a community, not as individuals. Thus, when people became Christians and departed from the Greek and Roman community effort to appease the many gods, those Christians were often blamed when bad things happened. An example of this was when a massive fire broke out in the city of Rome in AD 64 and the Roman Emperor at that time, Nero, quickly blamed the Christians for the fire.[7]

            In the first century, Christians were seen as having drawn away from society and had neglected their obligation to appease the various Greek and Roman gods. This meant Christians relied on one another for protection and survival against the persecutions they received from non-Christians. The idea of a private decision and private life following Jesus Christ was almost impossible in the first century. In his commentary on Hebrews, Donald Guthrie writes, “The New Testament lends no support to the idea of lone Christians. Close and regular fellowship with other believers is not just a nice idea, but an absolute necessity for the encouragement of Christian values.”[8]

            Now that we’ve seen the problem addressed in that culture and in Hebrews 10:25a, let’s look at the same problem in our times. In the last several decades we have seen a massive departure from the American Protestant church.  

            In his article, “The Church Is Losing Its Gray Heads: Why Are Boomers and Gen X Dropping Out of Church at Higher Rates than Younger Christians,”[9] Adam Macinnis cites Barna’s research that found the biggest decline in church attendance over the past three  decades has been among adults 55 and older.[10]

            What are the reasons for this departure? I believe there are two reasons people are not actively involved in a local church assembly.

            One reason is people’s priorities. Often so called Christians allow other priorities to override their time for church involvement. A few years ago I was talking with the pastor of a church in another state. He told me about various members of his church that he hadn’t seen gather for worship for months or even a year. Often when he talked to them during their impromptu meetings at restaurants, the mall, or coffeeshops, they would tell him, “We want to be a church, but we’re so busy.” This pastor shared with me that he struggled to listen to the “we’re so busy” excuse because he knew these families weren’t too busy to go on a two-week vacation to another country. They weren’t too busy to have their kids in multiple sports at the same time. They weren’t too busy to have their hair done at a salon and their nails professionally painted and manicured. They weren’t too busy to play golf every week. The pastor told me that it wasn’t that those people were “too busy for church,” but instead the problem was that they had prioritized other items over church.

            Another reason people are not involved in the local church is pride. We could call this the “John Wayne” mentality: ““I can get what I want by myself.”  Perhaps our American individuality mindset tells us we don’t need people and that we can go life alone. Therefore we don’t need to be involved in a local church.

            With all that in perspective, we must recognize that the author of Hebrews says that a Christian’s ability to persevere in the faith is dependent on meeting with other Christians for worship and encouragement. Essentially, Hebrews 10:25a says that it’s impossible to be a Christian in isolation.

[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

[2] There is a problem in the book of Hebrews. When reading Hebrews, it’s clear the assembly was in crisis. Some people defected from the assembly, as described here. Some stopped listening to God’s Word preached in an attentive way (Heb 2:1; 3:7b—4:13; 5:11; 12:25). Some of the believers became lethargic and discouraged in their faith in a hostile culture (Heb 12:3–4). Some were in danger of turning away from Jesus and returning back to the safe haven of Judaism (Heb 3:12).

[3] BDAG, s.v. “egkataleipo”.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Daniel Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996), 521–22.

[6] This is the reason we see several “warning passages” in the book of Hebrews. Here’s a list of those famous warning passages: “The Danger of Drifting“ (Heb 2:1–4); “The Danger of Disobedience“ (Heb 3:7—4:13); “The Danger of Degeneration“ (Heb 5:11—6:20); “The Danger of Despising“ (Heb 10:26-39 or Heb 10:19–39); and “The Danger of Denying“ (Heb 12:25–29).

[7] The Roman historian, Tacitus, records this in his work, Annals 15:44.

[8] Donald Guthrie, Hebrews, Tyndale New Testament Commentary, vol. 15 (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1983), 218.

[9] Adam Macinnis, “The Church Is Losing Its Gray Heads: Why Are Boomers and Gen X Dropping Out of Church at Higher Rates than Younger Christians,” Christianity Today (March 2022),  47–52.

[10] This is contrary to the popular belief that the church is shrinking because young people are abandoning their faith. In fact, The Barna Group has conducted research that shows that weekly worship attendance is highest among Millennials According to Barna, in 2022 approximately 39 percent of Millennials attended church regularly. See “The Turn of the Millennial” in Christianity Today (October 2022), 19.

It is important to gather with a body of other believers in worship each week. If you’re reading this I’m guessing that you know that already. This past Sunday you likely woke up early, got dressed, entered your car, and drove to church where you worshipped God with other believers.

            But if a non-Christian asked you, “Why do you go to a worship service each week;” what would you tell him? You would have to ask yourself some questions. Do you attend church because of what you get out of it? Do you attend church as a way to earn righteousness before God? Do you attend church because it’s your spiritual family and you want to spend time with your family? Do you attend church because it is what you have always done?

            Let me pose another scenario to you. What if someone said, “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.” What if someone said, “I don’t have to go to church to show that I love Jesus.” How would you respond to those declarative statements?

            Starting today we’re going to examine Hebrews 10:23–25 and explore this passage in the next several articles. Perhaps these are familiar verses for you. They are definitely relevant verses for the local church to study.

            We look at Hebrews 10:23–25 as part of our series of articles about discipleship we’ve been exploring together this year. Thus far we’ve learned that authentic disciples of Jesus embrace God’s word (2 Tim 3:16–17) and embody God’s kingdom (Phil 3:17–21). Today we’ll begin to learn how disciples encourage one another from Hebrews 10:23–25.    

            Hebrews is a unique book. Not a lot of pastors like to preach from Hebrews because it’s long (thirteen chapters), it’s difficult to preach (it contains twenty-nine Old Testament quotations  and fifty-three Old Testament allusions), and it’s difficult to interpret (Hebrews is famous for its “warning passages”[1]).

            Hebrews was probably composed around AD 62[2] and addressed to a local community of Jewish believers[3] located in the city of Rome. Hebrews 10:23–25 is part of Hebrews 10:19–25 which is one single, skillfully composed sentence in Greek.[4] Hebrews was written to encourage Jewish believers to mature in their faith by focusing on the superiority of Christ and his work.

            With that background work done let’s look at the verses briefly together. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb 10:23–25, NASB).[5]

            Based on what we read we learn that the proper response to Christ for a Christian is to hold fast to the confession of faith, stimulate one another to love and good deeds, and to encourage one another as they wait for the Lord’s return. This means that while you don’t have to attend church to be a Christian, one of the signs that you are a Christian is that you attend church.

            I realize those are strong statements that need explanations, and we’ll do that in the coming weeks.

[1] Here’s a list of those famous warning passages: “The Danger of Drifting“(Heb 2:1-4); “The Danger of Disobedience“ (Heb 3:7-4:13); “The Danger of Degeneration“ (Heb 5:11-6:20); “The Danger of Despising“ (Heb 10:26-39 or Heb 10:19-39); and “The Danger of Denying“ (Heb 12:25-29).

[2] I believe Hebrews was written around AD 62 for the following reasons. The readers appear to be second generation believers (Heb 2:3-4), so the date cannot be earlier than AD 60. Clement of Rome utilized this letter, so it must have been written before AD 96. The temple rituals are described as still going on (Heb 9:6-9; 10:1-4), so the letter must have been written before AD 64.

[3] Throughout the letter there are no references to Gentile society, no description of a Jewish-Gentile controversy, and the entire background of the epistle is placed in a Jewish history and religion.

[4] Some scholars have called this section a “sustained exhortation.”

[5] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

Physicists from Stanford and the University of California Santa Barbara are trying to put one object in two places at the same time. This is called “quantum entanglement” and consists of heating and cooling a tiny piece of matter to extreme levels and measuring it to see if it can be detected in multiple locations. Einstein theorized it might be possible, and these researchers believe they can do it.[1]

            While this might sound like the stuff of science fiction, Christians have been in two places at once for more than two thousand years. How is this possible?

            Christians alive on earth are citizens of heaven (spiritually) and are living on earth (physically). Paul tells us that even though our bodies are on earth, “we are citizens of heaven” (Phil 3:20, NLT).[2] We are in two places at once.

            Philippians 3:17–21 describes how we embrace God’s kingdom as citizens of heaven while on earth. In other words, we live as residents of God’s heavenly kingdom even though we live on the earth. It’s like we are in two places at once.

            Paul writes to the believers in the city of Philippi, “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself” (Phil 3:17–21, NASB).[3]

            In these five verses we learn we should follow the example of a mature believer that is less imperfect than us, reject the example of those that reject Christ, and live according to heaven’s agenda. In this way, being a member of God’s kingdom requires that we live like a member of the kingdom.

            Some parts of Scripture are hard to read, not because the text is hard to understand, but because the text is hard to apply. I would put Philippians 3:17–21 in the category of hard to read because it’s hard to apply.

            Philippians 3:17–21 is a challenging set of verses because they address behavior. This passage reminds us that discussing our creed we have as Christians is easier than figuring out our proper conduct. This passage shows us that discerning our doctrine we have as Christians is easier than following our correct duty. 

            Let’s remind ourselves what Paul says a citizen of heaven who lives on earth looks like. Based on Philippians 3:17 we learned about the model we should follow. We were taught to designate a mentor for ourselves. Based on Philippians 3:18–19 we learned about mortals we avoid. We were taught to discern what we read or hear. Based on Philippians 3:20–21 we learned about the manner we live. We were taught to distinguish our lifestyles as Christians from the lifestyle of the world. 

            Being a Christian is difficult because people look at our entire life (personal, professional, family, friends) to evaluate our claim that we are Christians. Being Christians is a challenge because all of our behavior is tied to who we are as Christians. If we worked as an accountant, as a nurse, or as a mechanic, most people would not look at our personal life to examine if we are effective at our jobs. We normally do not pay attention to someone’s personal life as a reflection of how well he can do his professional work.

            However, the opposite is true for us as Christians. How we act at church is important, but how we behave when we are at Wal-Mart, with our friends in a restaurant, or at work are all evaluated in light of the fact that we are Christians. In other words, it’s even more important that we live as Christians when not at church. And that’s because we are on earth living as citizens of heaven.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion:

1. What areas of your life do you feel like you’re living as a citizen of heaven best?
2. What areas of your life do you feel you’re not living as a citizen of heaven?
3. How can you improve?
4. Are there teachings of Scripture you know contradict your life? How can you change that?

—

Christopher L. Scott is a pastor and author of the book, Walking Straight When Life Goes Sideways: Essential Christian Truths for Enduring Life’s Trials (Wipf and Stock). He provides hundreds of free articles, videos, and Bible study resources at his website ChristopherLynnScott.com.

[1] See Jay Bennet, “The Same Atoms Exist in Two Places Nearly 2 Feet Apart Simultaneously,” Popular Mechanics, December 28, 2015, https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a18756/atoms-exist-two-places-simultaneously/; Andrea Estrada, “Physicists Show Theory of Quantum Mechanics Applies to the Motion of Large Objects,” The Current, March 17, 2010, https://news.ucsb.edu/2010/012788/physicists-show-theory-quantum-mechanics-applies-motion-large-objects;

[2] Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015).

[3] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

Christians should look different. That’s the essence of Paul’s message to the Christians in the city of Philippi in Philippians 3:17–21. Paul has told them about the model they follow (v. 17), about the mortals they avoid (vv. 18–19), and now he’s going to tell them about the manner they live (vv. 20–21). In previous weeks we’ve learned that an authentic disciple of Jesus Christ embraces God’s word (2 Tim 3:16–17), Now we are learning that an authentic disciple embodies God’s kingdom (Phil 3:17–21).

            Paul writes, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself” (Phil 3:20–21, NASB).[1]

            Let’s look at the expression, “For our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil 3:20a).Paul says we are in the world, yet not of the world. It’s like saying you’re in the boat, but not touching the water.[2] This word for “citizenship” is the Greek word, politeuma.[3] It’s only used one time in the New Testament and can be translated as “commonwealth,” “government,” or “state.”[4] This noun is similar to the word used as a verb in Philippians 1:27a, “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ” (NLT, emphasis mine).

            The idea of citizenship is a metaphor that the Philippians[5] would have understood.[6] Many residents of Philippi were patriotic veterans of the army.[7] 

            After having been destroyed by wars it was rebuilt by Emperor Octavian who established it as a military outpost, populated the city with veterans of his wars, made it a Roman colony, and gave it what was called, ius italicum, which was one of the highest privileges attainable by provincial municipality.[8] The people living in Philippi were Roman citizens living in a foreign land 800 miles away from Rome.[9]

            Thus far we’ve looked at the expression Paul uses about citizenship. Next let’s look at the expectations his followers have. Paul writes, “from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20b). This eager expectation is a common theme in other parts of the New Testament. Several writers tell us about the second coming of Christ and how we are to eagerly await him (Rom 8:23; 1 Thess 1:9–10; 4:16–18; 2 Pet 3:11). We’re taught to wait patiently yet expectantly.[10]

            Now that we’ve read Paul’s expression and expectation, we next see his explanation, “who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself” (Phil 3:21).

            Paul explains our situation,“the body of our humble state.” That phrase could literally be translated as “body of our humiliation.” That phrase refers to how our bodies are subjected to disease, decay, and death due to sin. But this will be changed at the resurrection of believers (Rom 8:11; 1 Cor 6:14; 15:50-53).

            Paul explains our transformation, “who will transform . . . into conformity with the body of His glory.” All believers will have to undergo a change in order to inherit God’s eternal kingdom. Those alive at Christ’s second coming as well as those who have died will experience this transformation. The late Greek scholar A.T.  Robertson has written, “The body of our state of humiliation will be made suitable to associate with the body of Christ’s glory.”[11] As Pastor Mark Hitchcock says, “We’ll get an airlift and a facelift.”[12] We will have a body like Jesus Christ’s resurrected body.

            Philippians 3:20–21 teaches us that as Christians we distinguish our lifestyle from the lifestyle of the world. Did you notice the contrast between those who are worldly in Philippians 3:18–19 with those who are heavenly in Philippians 3:20–21?

            This is one of the most important articles I’ve written in our series on discipleship. If there is one thing that hurts the church it’s this: when Christians don’t live like Christians. Paul’s message tells us that if we are followers of Christ then we should act like Christ acted. And Christ acted very different than the culture of his day. We too, are called to act different than the world we live in today.

            So let’s review.[13] Paul has given us descriptions of the worldly person in Philippians 3:18–19. These people are enemies of the cross, they are on a path to destruction, their appetite is their god, their glory is their shame, and they set their minds on worldly things.

            Conversely, Paul has also given us directions for the heavenly person in Philippians 3:20–21. In these verses we learn several things.

            First, heavenly people are embracers of the cross. We accept the gift of salvation of what Christ did for us, and we live in a way that honors his sacrifice.

            Second, heavenly people are on a path to salvation. We walk with the Holy Spirit growing in Christlikeness all the time. We live in a sacrificial way in order to honor his sacrifice.

            Third, heavenly people have God as our appetite. We desire what God desires. We desire what honors him. What pleases him pleases us.

            Fourth, heavenly people mourn over our shame. When we do shameful things we feel the shame that rightly comes into our lives not just because of what sin does to us, but because of what sin does to others and to God.

            Fifth, heavenly people set our minds on heavenly things. We don’t live for today, but we look for Christ coming. He’ll return and change us.

            These are just a small sample of the things the New Testament teaches us to do as citizens of heaven on earth. Being a member of the kingdom requires that we live like a member of the kingdom.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion:

1. Was there a time in your life when you lived as an enemy of the cross?
2. What was it that changed you?
3. Which of these “heavenly people” descriptions does not describe you? How can you change that?
4. Which of these “heavenly people” descriptions does describe you? How did you achieve this?

—

Christopher L. Scott is a pastor and author of the book, Walking Straight When Life Goes Sideways: Essential Christian Truths for Enduring Life’s Trials (Wipf and Stock). He provides hundreds of free articles, videos, and Bible study resources at his website ChristopherLynnScott.com.

[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

[2] John 17:14-16; 1 Cor 7:29-34; 1 Peter 2:11.

[3] The word used in this manner “is not so much a reference to their citizenship, nor even their status as a ‘colony’; it should be understood in terms of their metropolis or capital city, which lists its members among its citizens. It is a community of foreign nationals (foreigners to paganism) with a threefold meaning: (a) local (the politēs has ties to a place, a city)—our politeuma is in heaven; (b) political—like every analagous civitas, conferring liberty and equality on all its members, full rights; (c) constitutional and legal—exclusive dependency on the supreme authority of the Kyrios, Jesus,” Ceslas Spicq and James D. Ernest, Theological Lexicon of the New Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994), 131.

[4] A word-study resource I regularly use states that in the “strict sense of the word, a politeuma is an organization of citizens from the same place, with the same rights (isonomoi) in the midst of a foreign state,” Spicq and Ernest, Theological Lexicon of the New Testament, 130.

[5] The city of Philippi was old and historic when Paul was addressing them. The city had been built by Philip of Macedon in 358-357 BC. It was one of the main stations along the main overland route that connected Rome and the East.

[6] The Philippians were “proud of their city, proud of their ties with Rome, and proud to observe Roman customs and obey Roman laws, proud to be Roman citizens,” Hawthorne, “Philippians, Letter to the” in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1993),707.

[7] A.A. Rupprecht, “Legal System, Roman” in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, 548.

[8] Hawthorne, “Philippians, Letter to the” in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, 707.

[9] With that historical background in mind, I think we can read the same phrase in a fresh way, “For our citizenship is in heaven.” One commentary says that this word, “citizenship” describes “one’s behavior as a citizen of a nation. Paul is encouraging us to have the spiritual mind, and he does this by pointing out the characteristics of the Christian whose citizenship is in heaven. Just as Philippi was a colony of Rome on foreign soil, so the church is a ‘colony of heaven’ on earth,” Warren Wiersbe, Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2(Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 92.

[10] The Greek word used here, apekdechomai, is also used in Romans 8:23. While different words are used, the idea is the same in 2 Peter 3:11, 12; 1 Thess 1:9–10; 4:16–18.

[11] A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), Philippians 3:21. Also see 1 Corinthians 15:54.

[12] Mark Hitchcock, “Walk This Way” (Philippians 3:17-21), Faith Bible Church, Edmond, OK, November 19, 2017. https://faithbibleok.subspla.sh/g66f5x5. Accessed Jan 13, 2024.

[13] The following section is adapted from Charles Swindoll, Insights on Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary, vol. 9 (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2017), 78.

There are many things in life we are taught that we should avoid. Don’t speed when driving a car. Don’t eat highly processed foods. Don’t spend more money than you make. Those are all good advice for life. Scripture teaches us that there are activities we should avoid, and that there are people we should avoid too. That’s the message Paul sends in Philippians 3:18–19.

In Philippians 3:17 Paul taught us (as Christians) that we need a model to follow. Now in Philippians 3:18–19 he gives us caution about mortals to avoid. We might say that Philippians 3:18–19 gives the reasons for the exhortation of Philippians 3:17. Paul tells us that there are people we need to avoid and that Christians always need to be cautious about what they read and hear.

Paul writes, “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ” (Phil 3:18, NASB).[1] Paul calls these people,“enemies of the cross of Christ,” and had previously warned the Philippians about these people, “I often told you.” When you read Paul’s letters and his activity in the book of Acts, you see that he often warned about false teachers.[2]

While there was a past warning given, now there is a present warning given, “now [I] tell you even weeping.”[3] The participle, “weeping,” is connected to the verb, “tell you.” This combination reveals to us the manner in which Paul spoke to the Philippians: sadness. Paul wept as he warned the Philippians because of the harm these people do.

            In addition to a past and present warning, there also was a problem. Perhaps the believers in Philippi that Paul had discipled were drifting from the truth. Perhaps these false teachers were strong leaders that were beginning to throw their weight around.

            These “enemies of the cross”[4]probably were not members of the church because Paul would not have included these people in his glowing thanksgiving of Philippians 1:4–8.[5]

Based on this information, I believe these likely were people that professed to be Christians since they are connected to Christ’s saving death, but did not possess Christ as Lord in their lives. The things they proclaimed about Christ showed that they did not possess Christ in their lives. In addition to that, Philippians 3:19 reveals the behavior of these people has made them enemies of the cross. These people demonstrate by the way they behave what they believe.

            Paul writes more about these people, “whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things” (Phil 3:19). This verse reveals four short curt expressions of the character and destiny of Paul’s enemies.

            We first learn about their goal, “whose end is destruction.” They are headed for eternal damnation because they have rejected the cross of Christ.

            We next learn about their god, “whose god is their appetite.” This is the deep self-centeredness in which their desires come first. These enemies of the cross only think of their physical desires. In some way perhaps they have failed to put their old life to death. Maybe they claim to embrace the cross of Christ while also enjoying the sins of their life prior to Christ.

            Then we learn about the glory they desire, “whose glory is in their shame.”They prided themselves in the things they should have been ashamed of. The combination of words here describes a shameful conduct that has excess, especially sexually.[6]

            Lastly we learn about their guide, “who set their minds on earthly things.”They have set their minds on the things of this life. As they “set their minds”to earthly things it depicts their mental attitude, their basic aims, and their inward disposition to earthly things. In other words, they focus on the earthly sphere of sin (Rom 8:5-6).

            Philippians 3:18–19 teaches us that we need to discern what we read and hear. This, essentially, is what Paul is doing here in this letter. He’s discerning how these“enemies of the cross” conduct themselves.

            This is hard because enemies of the cross sometimes look like us. They might use some of the same language such as “salvation” or “faith” or “repentance.” Yet as we learn more, we learn they don’t mean the same things that we mean.

            For example, Mormons will talk about “Scripture” or the “Trinity.” Mormons will use words like “grace” and “faith.” But the more you talk with Mormons about those terms the more you realize those terms have vastly different meaning by Mormons than how we as Christians use them. We need discernment because they used the same terms we use, but they don’t mean the same thing.

            When we hear sermons in church, read Christian books, or listen to messages on podcasts we should always be discerning and be aware of false teaching that might lead us astray. There’s a quote I’ve had in my files for a while that seems fitting for this topic, “Every car with a Christian bumper sticker is not necessarily occupied by Christians. Every neck wearing a cross is not necessarily a redeemed neck.”[7] Because of that Christians need to discern what they read and hear. We do this by filtering what we hear and read through the Scriptures God has given us and the theology the church has preserved for us.

            Paul encouraged his audience to do that, and may we too heed that same advice as we interact with the people around us.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. What have you learned from identifying and avoiding enemies of the cross?
2. Are there people in your life that might fit the description of “enemies of the cross?”
3. How can you (or should you) try to avoid them?
4. Have you ever been an “enemy” of the cross and how did you change?

—

Christopher L. Scott is a pastor and author of the book, Walking Straight When Life Goes Sideways: Essential Christian Truths for Enduring Life’s Trials (Wipf and Stock). He provides hundreds of free articles, videos, and Bible study resources at his website ChristopherLynnScott.com.

[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

[2] Paul often warned about the dangers of false teachers (Phil 3:1). He possibly did this while he was there in Philippi ministering, through letters we don’t have, or through Epaphroditus’ unofficial comments not in print. This was similar to what he did for the believers in the city of Ephesus (Acts 20:19, 28-30, 31).

[3] In Acts 20:31 there he says he was weeping too.

[4] As we read about these people it’s important that we remember that Paul and his readers knew who these people were, but us reading 2,000 years later don’t know. One commentator, JJ Gunther, listed eighteen different scholarly suggestions about who these people might be. Peter O’Brien, Philippians (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm B. Eerdmans, 1991), 27.

[5] These enemies of the cross might be the same group Paul has labeled as having wrong motives in preaching (Phil 1:15-17), Paul’s opponents headed for destruction (Phil 1:27–28), those Paul calls dogs of evil work (Phil 3:2), or the people Paul calls libertines or antinomians (Phil 3:18–19).

[6] Peter O’Brien, Philippians (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm B. Eerdmans, 1991), 456–457.

[7] John MacArthur, “Traits of a True Believer, part 1” (John 13:31–38), https://www.gty.org/sermons/43-70/traits-of-a-true-believer-part-1.

Every Christian needs to follow a person that is passionately—and imperfectly—following Christ. Paul was that person for the Philippians. Paul wrote, “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (Phil 3:17, NASB).[1]

            Paul describes several good models to follow for Christian behavior in his letter to the Philippians.[2] He provides the example of Christ (Phil 2:5–11), Timothy who was concerned for them and worked hard to share the Gospel (Phil 2:19–24), and Epaphroditus who was a fellow worker with Paul in the Gospel even though it caused health problems (Phil 2:25–30). In addition to those, we need to also remember that Paul spent time in Philippi. In Acts 16 he established the church there, spent some time in prison, and then continued to minister to the church after he was released from prison.

            With this in mind, in Philippians 3:17 Paul tells his readers to follow him. He writes, “join in following my example.”[3]The idea of “mimic me as I mimic Christ” was something Paul often said (Phil 4:9; 1 Cor 4:6; 11:1; Tit 2:7-8). He told others to emulate him because he was following Christ, not because he was perfect.[4] Specifically, what would Paul say to imitate about himself? Perhaps his self-denying and self-giving acts (1 Cor 10:33-11:1), his willingness to suffer for others (1 Thess 1:6; 2:14; 2 Thess 3:7-9), or his ability to lose everything for Christ while also imitating Christ (Phil 3:5-9).

            Paul not only wants the Philippians to follow him, but also to follow Paul’s companions. He writes, “observe those who walk.” This is not Paul, but Paul’s companions: Timothy and Epaphroditus (see Phil 2:19, 25). They were contemporaries of Paul and other godly examples for the Philippians to imitate.

            Paul tells the Philippians to copy both Paul and his companions. He writes, “walk according to the pattern you have in us” That word for “pattern” is a different Greek word than for “example” above. The word for “pattern” in Greek is tupon. This word describes an impression left by a stroke, like “the print of the nails” (John 20:25). It often was used of a stamp on a coin or the impression of an engraving or work of art.[5] The idea Paul conveys here is that the Philippians are to follow the tangible examples of Paul and his coworkers.

            Philippians 3:17 teaches us that we need to designate a spiritual mentor for ourselves. Ideally, it’s best if this is a local person that we can talk to and be in proximity to physically. It’s best to have a flesh and blood person whom we can be with to disciple us. Often this is someone that we worship God with each week.

            All of us need a fellow fallen and frail person that is passionately (and imperfectly) following Christ that we can follow. So who do we follow if no one is perfect? We find a less imperfect person than we are and follow him or her. We do not look for someone who’s perfect but someone who relentlessly pursues Christ-likeness.

            In other words, we need imperfect mentors for imperfect disciples. For example, if you struggle with an alcohol addiction that you want to overcome, do you want someone that’s never touched alcohol or someone that had a severe addiction and overcame it with God’s grace? If you struggle in your marriage with arguments and are not sure how you can stay married, do you want a mentor that has never had a fight with his spouse or someone that’s been through many troubles but stayed married and is passionately loving his spouse?

            As we look for spiritual mentors we must remember that different Christians have different needs. Whatever our situation might be, we need to find someone who is following God that we can imitate and follow. Paul was that person for the Philippians, and I pray that we each find someone to be that “Paul” for us just as the Philippians experienced.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion:

• Who has been a spiritual mentor in your life, and what did that relationship mean to you?
• Is there someone in your life you’d like to offer to be a spiritual mentor to? Discuss your plan to offer to mentor that person.
• Is there someone in your life you’d like to have a as a spiritual mentor to you? Discuss your plan to ask him or her to mentor you.
• What would the format look like for you to mentor or be mentored by someone else?

—

Christopher L. Scott is a pastor and author of the book, Walking Straight When Life Goes Sideways: Essential Christian Truths for Enduring Life’s Trials (Wipf and Stock). He provides hundreds of free articles, videos, and Bible study resources at his website ChristopherLynnScott.com.

[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

[2] As we read Philippians 3:17 we need to make sure we understand the context of it within the book of Philippians. Philippians is one of the four letters of Paul that we call “prison letters.” Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon during his first imprisonment in Rome (see Acts 26—28). Second Timothy was another letter that Paul wrote from prison in Rome. However, 2 Timothy was written during a second and later imprisonment in Rome. Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon were written while Paul was under “house arrest” while Paul wrote 2 Timothy from the “Mamertine” prison in a later imprisonment after the first. Many prisoners awaited execution in the famous Rome Mamertine Prison. It was an abandoned cistern that was only accessible through a whole in the ceiling. See Charles Swindoll, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary, vol. 11 (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2014), 161.

[3] The word for “example” here is summimetai which is found nowhere else in Greek literature. But it comes from the Grk word, mimetes meaning “imitator.” William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000). 652.

[4] How do I know Paul was not perfect? He wrote earlier in this chapter, “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:12–14).

[5]A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), Philippians 3:17.

I have a family member who was born in 1965 as an American citizen, but he was not born in America. He was born 4,8000 miles away in Germany, yet his birth certificate lists him as an American citizen.

That is possible because he was born on an American Army base in Germany. As Christians, we have a similar situation to my family member who lived in one country while being a citizen of another country. We are here on earth temporarily until we arrive at our permanent home in heaven.

            Because of this we face the challenge of living like citizens of heaven on earth in a culture that does not match our Christian values and priorities. While we want to honor God with our actions, we live in a culture where people get honor from culture because of the shameful things they do. Have you ever noticed that? The more shame someone brings on himself or herself, the more fame he or she gets through media coverage, book contracts, social media following, documentary series, etc.

            Conversely, the honorable way we live on earth should bring honor to our God in heaven. We do this in many ways such as through how we love our family, how we care for our community, the effort we put into our work, and the way we use our money. People in our culture should look at us as Christians and recognize that something is different. We should be so different that they might not even understand why we do what we do.

            Paul tells us to do this and how to do this in his letter to the Philippians. “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” (Phil 3:17–21, NASB).[1] This text forces us to examine our behavior as Christians compared to the behavior of the world.

            In previous weeks we looked at 2 Timothy 3:16–17 about the belief we have that all Scripture is inspired by God and useful. In the coming weeks we will look at Philippians 3:17–21 which addresses behaviors we have because of those beliefs.

            Before we carefully examine the individual parts of Philippian 3:17–21 I think it’s healthy to summarize these few verses. Here’s my summary of what Paul is telling us: Follow the example of a mature believer that is less imperfect than you, reject the example of those that reject Christ, and live according to heaven’s agenda. In other words, being a member of God’s kingdom requires that we live on earth like a member of that kingdom.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

• What are some areas where people get attention and accolades because of the shameful things they do?
• What pressure do you regularly feel living as a Christian in a culture that does not match your values and priorities?
• How can you gain more confidence to live as a citizen of heaven while on earth?

[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

Years ago I heard of a poet who left a note on his door when he would go to lunch with his friends: “Publishing poetry is fun, but my morning’s work is done, so I went out to brunch with others as a bunch, and I’ll be back at one.”[1] Now that’s a man who practiced what he preached. He applied his job (as a poet) to a task (of writing a sign on his door telling people he’d gone out for food).

            As Christians we need to be people that apply God’s word to our lives. If we say we believe in God, that we love God, and that we want to follow God, then the only logical step is to apply to our lives what he has given us.

            In Paul’s second letter to Timothy he tells us about what God has given us. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16–17, NASB).[2] In those two verses Paul tells us that if we are Christ followers we should be doers of what Christ says.

            From these two verses we learn that Scripture is supernaturally given by God for the sanctification of God’s people and preparation for ministry and life. We can conclude an authentic disciple embraces God’s word into his or her life.

            So, how do we embrace God’s word into our lives? There are three ways we do this.           

First, we read it devotionally. We might read a couple of verses, a paragraph, or a chapter a day. The amount is less important than the regular practice. For many years I read through the entire Bible each year by reading four chapters a day. Recently I spent five years reading through the Psalms by reading the same Psalm every day for a week before moving on to the next Psalm (an exception was Psalm 119, of course!).

            Second, we study it methodically. There are different ways to study God’s word, but I prefer the Inductive Bible Study method. The Inductive Bible Study method starts with “observation” and answers the question, “What’s the text say?” Then moves on to “interpretation” which asks, “What’s the text mean?” It finishes with “application” which asks, “How do I apply the text?”[3]

            Third, we listen to it regularly. Find some good podcasts or radio broadcasts that you listen to each week. Here are a few. I’ve provided the Bible teacher’s name as well as the name of the ministry in parenthesis: David Jeremiah (Turning Point), Charles Swindoll (Insight for Living), J. Vernon McGee (Thru the Bible), Chip Ingram (Living on the Edge), John MacArthur (Grace to You), or Charles Stanley (In Touch Ministries).

            I believe we learn from 2 Timothy 3:16–17, as well as the rest of the New Testament, that an authentic disciple embraces God’s word into his or her life.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion:

• What is your current process for reading God’s word?
• How can you learn more from what God has provided?
• How can you apply more of what God has provided?
• Is there someone you can discuss what you are reading and learning with regularly?

[1] Adapted from the text of Frank & Earnest, June 20, 2023.

[2] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

[3] You can learn more about inductive Bible studies in the following books: Robert Traina, Methodical Bible Study (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1980); Howard Hendricks and William Hendricks, Living by the Book (Chicago, IL: Moody, 2007); Charles Swindoll, Searching the Scriptures (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2013).

Those of us who have spent time working on vehicles remember the trusty Chilton repair manuals. Back before there was NASA level technology in our vehicles, when someone bought a vehicle he or she often also bought the Chilton manual to go with the vehicle. The Chilton manual provided descriptions and pictures for how to maintain and fix different parts of the vehicle.

            The Scriptures that God has given us are like those Chilton manuals. God has provided Scripture to make us competent in the Christian life. Paul writes about this in 2 Timothy 3:17, “so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”[1]

            In 2 Timothy 3:16 Paul has described the divine origin of scripture (where it comes from) and the divine purpose of Scripture (what Scripture is for). Now in 2 Timothy 3:17 we learn about the divine result of Scripture. The two words at the beginning of 2 Timothy 3:17, “so that,” reveal what the result should be of Scripture being given to us.

            These words are directed to Timothy yet are for all people. When Paul writes, “the man of God,” it refers to Timothy as the man responsible to shepherd and pastor this church in Ephesus. It also is directed to an official preacher of divine truth. But in a sense it applies to all of us who commit ourselves to God, rely on Scripture for Godly living, and have positions of spiritual oversight.

            These are the words directed to the preparation of all people, “may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” The word “adequate” is translated from the Greek adjective, artios. This word is defined as “being well fitted for some function” and is used “in the sense of able to meet all demands.”[2] It could be translated as “complete” or “capable” or “proficient.” [3] This word comes from an old word meaning “to fit.”[4] In Greek you can move words around in a sentence in order to show emphasis. Often a writer would move a word to the front of the sentence to emphasize it. Here, this word, “adequate,” is placed second in the sentence in Greek to show emphasis on it. The idea is this: the person of God is capable of doing what God calls him or her to do because of God’s word.

            Let’s take a moment to examine the phrase, “equipped for every good work.”[5] Paul tells us here that Scripture makes us able to meet the demands of a godly ministry. In this way Scripture makes us able to live righteously. All who follow God experience the direction Scripture gives us for the life we live as Christians. Paul explained this same idea in his letter to the Ephesians (see Eph 4:11-13).

            What we learn from 2 Timothy 3:17 is that Scripture makes us competent. I like The Message’s rendering of 2 Timothy 3:17, “Through the word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.”[6] When chaos comes, Scripture makes us competent to weather the storms in the sea of life.

            Just as we might use the Chilton manual to be competent and adequate for any work on our vehicle, Scripture does that for us as Christians. Tony Evans has declared, “Everything that you need in order to be what God wants you to be is already in Scripture.”[7]

Scripture prepares us for what is ahead. An example of this is when I preached through 1 Peter on suffering in 2023. I had prayed about the needs of our church and sensed I needed to preach about suffering to help our church members who were going through some hard situations. So in the fall of 2023, I preached fourteen sermons from 1 Peter on suffering. Then, two weeks after I completed the sermon series, I found myself in a seven-day unexpected stay in our local hospital. I didn’t know God was preparing me for suffering, but I was ready! God was using his word to prepare me for the suffering that awaited me.

            Scripture gets us ready for what God has planned ahead of us. It might be a new challenging job we never thought we’d have to take, a set of kids that we weren’t sure we’d ever have, health problems we never imagined could be so bad, or aging parents that we never thought we’d have to care for. Whatever it might be, God’s word makes us competent for what God has planned ahead for us.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion:

• What are some things you have done to study God’s word in order to become more competent?
• What are some ways Scripture has made you competent in life?
• Who are people in your life you’ve seen grow and become competent because of God’s word?
• What are some areas of your life you are struggling with and might look to Scripture to help you handle?

[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

[2] William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 136.

[3] Ibid.

[4] A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), 2 Timothy 3:17.

[5] The Greek word for “equipped” is the verbal form of the Grek noun used for “adequate” earlier. This verb, exertismenos ἐξηρτισμένος (ἐξαρτίζω) is the verb of that adjective. (Much like “build” is the verb and “building” is the noun.) Thus you might notice the audible play on words: artios and exertismenos as they sound similar.

[6] Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005).

[7] The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible, 2019), 1297.

I love clean jokes. Here’s one: How many “traditionalists” does it take to change a light bulb? The answer is four. One to change the light bulb and three to tell you how great the old bulb was.

            We all know that change is hard. Second Timothy 3:16 teaches us about the change that occurs in us as we read Scripture. This verse reveals the divine origin of Scripture, “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Tim 3:16a),[1] as well as the purpose of Scripture, “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16b). It’s in 2 Timothy 3:16b that we learn that one of the reasons God gave us Scripture is to change us.

            In 2 Timothy 3:16b we learn that Scripture provides education. Paul writes that Scripture is “profitable” and provides “teaching.”Scripture has an educational aspect as the Word gives us teaching in a positive way. This helps us to understand God’s truth. This is divine instruction and foundational doctrinal content of both Old Testament and New Testament. God’s Word also provides practical real life instruction. If we compare this with the process that most of us followed to get a driver’s license, this would have been the classroom time where we were taught the laws of driving by a teacher and instructional book.  

            But that’s not all Scripture does. Scripture is profitable for “teaching” but also for “reproof” and “correction” and “training in righteousness.” Scripture reveals to us both our creed and our conduct, our belief and our behavior, as well as our doctrine and our duty.

            In 2 Timothy 3:16b we learn that Scripture provides exhortation. Paul writes about “reproof” which is negative. This addresses someone in sin and exposes his sin to himself. It means bringing correction of error where there has been deviation from that truth. It implies exposing someone’s sin in order to bring correction.[2] If we compare this with the process that most of us followed to get a driver’s license, this would have been us driving with our learner’s permit and passing a stop sign. The adult observing us would say, “You’re supposed to stop at that sign.”

            In 2 Timothy 3:16b we learn that Scripture provides exhortation with “reproof” but also  “correction.” While “reproof” is negative, “correction” is positive. Correction addresses those in error and brings restoration to the truth when there has been an error. This is the process of restoring that person after reproof. The Greek word here, epanorthosis, is only used one time in the New Testament. However, it is used in extra-biblical literature for “righting a fallen object, or helping back to their feet those who had stumbled.”[3] In this way, Scripture points people back to Godly living in addition to pointing out sin (Pss 119:9-11; Jn 16:1, 2). If we compare this with the process that most of us followed to get a driver’s license, this would be us approaching another stop sign and stopping like we are supposed to stop, at the direction of the adult observing us.

            In 2 Timothy 3:16b we learn that Scripture provides enablement. Paul writes about “training in righteousness.” This too, like “correction” and “teaching,” is positive. That phrase, “training in righteousness” could literally be translated as “child-training.” It’s the sameword used in Ephesians 6:4 for parents to bring up their children “in the instruction of the Lord.” This is positive training in Godly behavior. It’s a system of discipline that leads to Godly behavior and a holy lifestyle. If we compare this with the process that most of us followed to get a driver’s license, it is the continual learning we experience as we drive and get better at it.

            I love this summary of what Paul teaches in 2 Timothy 3:16 from Warren Wiersbe. He writes that the Scriptures “are profitable for doctrine (what is right), for reproof (what is not right), for correction (how to get right), and for instruction in righteousness (how to stay right).”[4] He then adds, “A Christian who studies the Bible and applies what he learns will grow in holiness and avoid many pitfalls in this world.”[5]

            What we learn from 2 Timothy 3:16b is that Scripture changes us. While change is hard, Scripture is what changes us. You and I can read other books, but the Bible is a book that reads us. If we read the Bible, the Bible will read us and change us.

            As the late J. Vernon McGee has said, “Studying the Bible should bring conviction to us.”[6] Every page should be read and marked in our Bible. Pastor Charles Swindoll says “Scripture trains us to align our behavior so that it matches our new, righteous identity.”[7]

            When we read God’s Word and follow what it says, we are changed. It will mold us. And what we find is that it changes us.

            For several years I was a member of a Toastmasters Club where I was taught to give speeches. Being in a Toastmasters Club is a unique experience because you stand up each week and give speeches, but when you sit down other members of the club take turns giving you feedback on what you could do better. One week I would be told that I said the word “um” too much. The next week I would be told that I didn’t use my hands when I spoke like I should. The next week I was told I spoke too fast and needed to slow down. The next week I was told that I talked in a monotone voice and I need to vary my pitch. I think you get the point: each week I would improve but then the group found new things I could still improve upon.

            It’s like that when we study God’s Word. We read it, we grow and change, only to learn later there’s something new we can improve. We work through things. Then we start to get those handled, and we have more things we work through. It’s in that way that Scriptures changes us.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion:

• What’s your process for reading God’s word daily?
• How has reading God’s word changed you?
• How can you find ways to read and discuss what you reading in Scripture with others?
• What are some ways you feel God’s word is changing you right now?
• Are there some areas of your life you need God to change you? How can reading God’s Word help you to make that change?

[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

[2] NET Bible, Full Notes Edition (Biblical Studies Press, 2019), 2279.

[3] MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd ed. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2020), 1625.

[4] Warren Wiersbe, Be Faithful (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2009), 174.

[5] Wiersbe, Be Faithful, 174.

[6] J. Vernon McGee, First and Second Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Thru the Bible vol. 50 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 124.

[7] Charles Swindoll, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary, vol. 11 (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2014), 241.

What we believe influences the decisions we make. For example, if we believe vaccinations are good then we will receive them. But if we believe vaccinations are harmful then we won’t receive them. If we believe it is important to vote as an American citizen, then we will register to vote and we will vote when allowed to do so.

            We could summarize this principle this way: what we believe influences our behavior. And because of this, what we as Christians believe about Scripture affects our behavior regarding what Scripture teaches. Two verses from Paul’s second letter to Timothy often inform our beliefs about Scripture.

            Second Timothy was written by the apostle Paul while he was in prison in Rome. However, this was different than the “prison letters” known as Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon which were written while Paul was under “house-arrest” in Rome. In 2 Timothy we learn from Paul that he is in prison once more (2 Tim 1:16-18), has been subjected to one trial (2 Tim 4:16), and the hour of his death was about to come (2 Tim 4:6).[1] Paul wrote 2 Timothy from the maritime prison, which was a wet, cold, and dark dungeon. While there is no biblical testimony about the death of Paul, the source closest to Paul’s death—Clement of Rome—wrote that Paul (and Peter) was persecuted and killed under Nero.[2]

            It is with this context that Paul wrote, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16–17, NASB).[3]

            In this context Paul was emphasizing the importance of Scripture in Timothy’s past (v. 15) as well as Timothy’s present and future ministries (vv. 16-17).

            Pastor Charles Swindoll wrote about this verse, “It is the single most significant sentence in all the New Testament regarding the Scriptures, because it touches on the watershed issue of faith in our times. What you believe about the Bible influences everything you believe and affects every decision you make.”[4]

            I think we could summarize these two verses like this: Scripture is supernaturally given by God for the sanctification of God’s people and preparation for ministry and life. It is my belief, based on these two verses, that an authentic disciple embraces God’s Word in his or her life.

            In the coming weeks we’re going to study these two verses to see what we should believe about the Bible and how that belief influences every decision we make.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion:

• What have you heard other people say—whether good or bad—about Scripture?
• What do you believe about Scripture?
• What are some of your earliest memories of seeing or reading the Bible?
• Do you have any significant or important memories of God speaking to you through his Word?
• How has your life changed as a result of reading Scripture?

[1] Paul Barnett, Jesus and the Rise of Early Christianity (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1999), 342-343.

[2] 1 Clement 5:1-4:5 cited in Barnett, Jesus and Early Christianity, 343.

[3] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

[4] Charles Swindoll, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary, vol. 11 (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2014), 239–240.

In 2008 I was working at a nonprofit doing fundraising. My boss’s name was Steve and he worked in an office adjacent to my cubicle. This was convenient as I could walk about fifteen feet from my desk into his office when I had accumulated a list of questions for him. I had only been working in this new position for a few weeks so I was still learning what my job was and how to do that job.

            One day I walked into his office with a few questions I had compiled to ask him. “Do you have a few minutes to talk about some questions I have, Steve?” He said, “Sure go ahead.” As I began to ask him questions I noticed he was packing items from his desk into boxes.

            My questions transitioned from my work to, “What are you doing, Steve?” He replied, “I’ve been let go. It’s not being handled well so I’m packing up and leaving.” He then admitted, “Hattie is going to be your new boss. Maybe you should ask her your questions. I’m glad to answer your questions and try to be helpful, but I think it would be best if you begin talking to her about these things since she will be your new boss.”

            I went to Hattie’s office and told her I heard she would be my new boss. She bluntly told me, “I don’t want to be your boss, I don’t want to do performance evaluations, and I don’t want to manage anyone.  So, let me tell you the basics of your job.” She then laid out the basic things she wanted me to do, and told me about things I could do that she didn’t want me to waste my time on. For the next five years I worked for Hattie always “sticking to the list” of things she told me she wanted me to do while ignoring all the other things that I “could do” but was told “not to do.”

            I want this series of articles on discipleship to be like that direction that Hattie gave to me. Whether you have just become a Christian or have been a Christian for sixty years, I want us to explore what the New Testament says we should be doing as Christians. This will then lead us to logical conclusions about what we should not be doing as Christians.

            Every Christian and every local church wonders about what things they should stay focused on as disciples of Jesus Christ. Sometimes we are overwhelmed as Christians. Do we sell all our things and give everything to the church like the believers did in the book of Acts? Do we go to Africa as missionaries or stay here and evangelize our families and friends? Do we still go and enjoy the same activities or watch the same movies we used to watch before we were Christians? As a local church, what is our purpose and what things do we do and not do?

            In our articles in the coming weeks we’ll look at four passages of Scripture from three different writers. Here’s a basic summary of what we’ll examine together.

            Paul teaches us that as disciples of Jesus Christ we embrace God’s Word: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16–17, NASB).[1]

            Paul also teaches us that as disciples of Jesus Christ we embody God’s kingdom: “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself” (Phil 3:17–21).

            The author of Hebrews teaches us that as disciples of Jesus Christ we encourage one another: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb 10:23–25).

            The apostle Peter teaches us that as disciples of Jesus Christ we evangelize others: “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame” (1 Pet 3:15-16).

            While this is one of many ways that we could define discipleship, I pray it is helpful for us to orient us to what we should and should not be doing as Christians. In the coming weeks we’ll explore each of these passages in detail. I look forward to the journey with you!

[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

Several years ago the editor of a magazine contacted me and asked for an article on discipleship. I had not written much on discipleship at that time, but I thought his request would be a good opportunity for me to clarify what I believed the New Testament taught on discipleship.

            I began my work on the article by reading from Matthew 1 to Revelation 22. Anytime I saw a description or action of a disciple I wrote it down on a piece of scratch paper. After reading through Matthew 1 to Revelation 22, I had compiled a list of more than sixty identifications of what a disciple looks like based on the New Testament.

            While I compiled a list of sixty descriptions of a disciple from the New Testament, you probably are familiar with Jesus’s teaching about discipleship. We are told about discipleship from Matthew when he records Jesus saying, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt 28:19–20, NASB).[1] I’m guessing this is a verse you’ve read and heard discussed before.

            Steve Elliott was one of the first people to disciple me and walk with me as a new Christian. He often said Matthew 28:19–20 was the most quoted yet least obeyed passage in the entire Bible. He originally taught that to me almost twenty years ago. I believe his words are truer now than ever.

            Because of that, I’m going to dedicate the coming months to us examining what the New Testament says about discipleship. I am excited to go on this journey with you this year as we explore different passages of scripture that teach us what being a disciple looks like.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION:

• Have you been discipled by someone? If so, who was that person and what was the experience like for you?
• Have you ever discipled someone? If so, who was that person (or persons) and what was that experience like for you?
• What have you heard people teach related to Matthew 28:19–20?
• How has your church fulfilled or failed to fulfill the command of these verses?
• In what ways do believe you and/or your church can better follow Jesus’s command to make disciples?

[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.