All posts by AttilaDimedici

Daily Bible Study

December 16, 2023 Bible Study — All Things Are Pure to the Pure, so Seek to Be Pure

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Titus and Philemon

Paul here gives Titus advice on the qualities to be sought in those chosen as leaders of the Church, and that advice is very similar to that which he gave to Timothy.  Paul tells us that those chosen for leadership positions must be blameless.  They must not be overbearing, nor quick-tempered, nor violent, nor given to dishonest gain.  On the other hand, they must be hospitable, self-controlled, upright, and disciplined.  I find it interesting that on both the “must not” list and the “must” list Paul lists two things which are almost synonyms for each other.  He says that they must not be either quick-tempered or violent, and that they must be both self-controlled and disciplined.  Not only are these things synonymous with the other one listed on the same list, they are also almost exactly opposite of the two on the other list.  I think this gives us a good idea about how important these characteristics are in a leader.  I think we can see why Paul thought they were so important in some of his other instructions to Titus.  He tells Titus to encourage others by sound doctrine while refuting those who oppose sound doctrine.  Further Paul tells Titus, and us, that he, and we, should act so as to embarrass those who oppose Christ because they have nothing bad to say about us.  Every time I read the qualifications which Paul lays out for a leadership position in the Church I am struck that each of us should strive to exemplify those qualities.

In the second passage I am looking at today, Paul writes to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, who was, apparently, a slave who ran away from Philemon, his master.  Paul seems to suggest to Philemon that he should give Onesimus his freedom, without using his authority as an Apostle to order it.  Paul also tells Philemon to bill him for any losses Onesimus may have caused him by running away, and perhaps before running away.  I get a hint that Onesimus may have run away from Philemon because he had done something which cost Philemon a lot of money and feared Philemon’s retribution.  Whatever the cause of expense to which Paul refers, he reminds Philemon, and us, of the importance of forgiving those who wronged us.  While Paul reminds Philemon of how Philemon owes him, I think he intends that reminder to remind each of us how much we owe God.  Our debt to God is much greater than any debt which our fellow humans may owe us.  Whatever good we have done them, and whatever harm they have done us, is but a smidgen against the great good which God has done for us.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

December 15, 2023 Bible Study — Do Not Argue for the Sake of Argument

Today, I am reading and commenting on  2 Timothy 1-4.

Paul warns Timothy, and us, against quarreling and being argumentative, especially over foolish and stupid things.  Instead, gently instruct those whose opinions you oppose.  We should pursue righteousness, faith, peace, and love, being kind to everyone.  Paul is not telling us not to disagree with each other, but to remain loving towards those with whom we disagree so that the Holy Spirit can move in them.  It is true that when we disagree we cannot both be right.  However, it is possible that we are both wrong.  In addition, sometimes the reason we think we disagree with someone is because we misunderstand them, or they misunderstand us.  Of course Paul also warns us about another reason we sometimes have hostile disagreements in the Church.  People become boastful, proud, and without love as a result of loving only themselves and/or money.  They may display an appearance of godliness without showing its power.  The power of godliness comes from the love with which the Spirit will fill us.

I am not happy with that last sentence, but could not find a better way to conclude what I was writing.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

December 14, 2023 Bible Study — If You Fill Your Time Doing Good Deeds, You Won’t Have Time to Sin, Not Even by Accident

Today, I am reading and commenting on  1 Timothy 5-6.

Paul writes that some sins precede us, while others only become obvious later.  He followed that by writing that good deeds are obvious, and even those which are not obvious cannot remain hidden.  It took me quite awhile to figure out what he was saying by writing this.  After some thought, I came to the conclusion that he meant that some sins are obviously sins, while others allow us to convince ourselves that committing them is not actually a sin.  In contrast, we all know a good deed when we see it, and even if we do good deeds in secret, eventually people will notice.  As for the sinful acts which we convince ourselves are not sins, since good deeds are obvious, we can avoid those sins by only doing those things which we know are good.  Or to put it another way, if we avoid doing anything which is not obviously a good deed, we will not sin by accident.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

December 13, 2023 Bible Study — Strive to Embody the Characteristics of a Good Leader

Today, I am reading and commenting on  1 Timothy 1-4.

In his letter to Timothy Paul urges us to pray and intercede for all people, especially for kings and those in positions of authority.  In addition, we should thank God for these people, even those we think are doing a bad job and/or persecuting Christians.  Doing so pleases God, who desires that everyone come to know the Truth and be saved.  The Truth which God wants everyone to know is that He is One and that Christ is the only mediator which anyone needs between God and man.  We should all pray without acting or dressing provocatively.  We should not seek to draw attention to ourselves, but rather should act so as to bring glory to God.  We should not allow anger to control our actions, nor should we dress to inspire lust.  When we do either of these things we are trying to make ourselves the center of attention.

Paul transitions from speaking about prayer and keeping the focus on God to writing about the qualifications for leadership in the Church.  He begins that transition by saying that a woman should learn in quietness and submission.  Followed by saying that he does not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man.  However, the translators’ notes suggest that “woman” could be translated as “wife” and that the “man” she should not teach or have authority over is her husband.  Such an interpretation would put this passage into the same context as what Paul wrote in Ephesians 5 where he told wives to submit to their husbands and husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the Church.  Christ loved the Church so much that He sacrificed Himself for it.  Similarly, a husband should sacrifice himself for his wife.

Starting from there, where Paul says that a wife should not be put into authority over her husband, he goes on to lay out the qualifications for leadership in the Church.  Paul tells us that a Church leader should be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, and hospitable.  He goes on to write that women leaders in the Church should be temperate and worthy of respect.  Really, all Paul says here is that those chosen for leadership positions in the Church should embody those characteristics which we should all strive to exhibit.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

December 12, 2023 Bible Study — The Man of Lawlessness and Christ’s Return

Today, I am reading and commenting on  2 Thessalonians 1-3.

Once again in writing to the Thessalonian Believers Paul writes about Christ’s return.  In his previous letter to them, Paul had written that Christ’s return would be like a thief in the night.  From what he writes here it appears that some were telling the Believers that they had missed it.  After all, if Christ would return like a thief in the night, then some might miss His coming.  Paul tells them that they should not let such teachers deceive them.  The day of Christ’s return will not come until the man of lawlessness is revealed.  Most people read what Paul writes here as referring to a specific singular individual, the Anti Christ.  However, every where in the New Testament where the term antichrist is used, it suggests that the antichrist is not specific individual, but instead is an attitude possessed by many people.  My personal opinion on this is that we should be watching for an individual who matches Paul’s description here, while at the same time applying this verse as if it refers to a more general attitude among people in general.

So, what does Paul tell us about the man of lawlessness who must be revealed before Christ’s return?  He writes that he is destined for destruction.  further, Paul writes that the man of lawlessness will oppose and exalt himself over everything which is worshiped or called God.  Indeed, the man of lawlessness will declare himself to be God.  On the one hand, as I read what Paul writes here, he seems to be speaking about a singular individual who will appear shortly before Christ’s return.  On the other hand, Paul’s description of the man of lawlessness sounds a lot like what our society today promotes.  Our culture today opposes everything which is called God, except in cases where people set themselves up as their own gods.  It certainly looks as if the one who holds back the man of lawlessness has been taken out of the way.  Does that mean that an individual will soon arise who will fulfill Paul’s prophecy?  Or, has his prophecy already been fulfilled by the rise of a society of lawlessness?  In either case, we should be prepared for Christ’s soon return.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

December 11, 2023 Bible Study — Living Lives of Pure Love for One Another

Today, I am reading and commenting on  1 Thessalonians 1-5.

Paul writes that it is God’s will that we be sanctified.  Paul’s next phrase suggests that part of being sanctified means avoiding sexual immorality by controlling our bodies in ways which are holy and honorable.  Paul writes that when we allow passionate lusts to control our bodies we end up wronging or taking advantage of our fellow humans, instead we should live holy, pure lives, with love for each other.   We should seek to love the people of God in ever increasing degree.

Paul goes on to reiterate that those who have already died in Christ will rise when Christ returns, while those of us still alive will join them to meet Christ in the air. I am unsure if Paul meant that literally or merely as a metaphor, but I am sure that those who died in their faith will meet the Lord first on the day of His return.  He further tells us not to concern ourselves with the date and time of Christ’s return.  However, we should live our lives prepared for His return so that we are not surprised when that day arrives.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

December 10, 2023 Bible Study — Whatever You Do, in Word and in Deed, Do to Bring Honor to Christ’s Name

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Colossians 1-4.

Paul warns the people of the Church in Colossae against allowing anyone to convince them into following hollow and deceptive philosophy.  So, what does Paul mean by “hollow and deceptive”?  Paul gives us some answers to that a little further on, but we can learn a little just from the words he chooses here.  Hollow suggests that the practices being taught are all for show and not really about what you do when no one is looking.  Deceptive tells us that the teachings really on misdirection and dishonesty.  An example of this would be: some religions teach that you must never lie, unless by doing so to outsiders you can advance the religion (it then goes on to define “outsiders” as those who do not follow the religion in the manner in which your group interprets it).  As I said, a little further on while expounding on this same teaching, Paul writes that we should let no one judge us by what we eat or drink, or by the religious rituals we follow, or don’t follow.  He exposes all such practices as having a surface appearance of wisdom and righteousness, but they lack any call to actually restrain our indulgence in sensual sin.

Paul teaches that, through our faith in Christ, we should have put to death our earthly nature.  Which he describes as sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed. As a side note I want to point out that on several occasions Paul tells us that greed is a form of idolatry, the worship of material possessions.  He goes on to tell us that we must put aside anger, malice, slander, and filthy language.  Instead we must not lie to one another as we are all being renewed and transformed into the image our Creator.  This means that in Christ we are all God’s people, not Gentiles and Jews, not slave and free, not black and white and Asian.   We are all together parts of the Body of Christ.  Paul calls on us to deal with each other in love.  Let us seek, with all of our hearts, to act with compassion, kindness, humility, and patience.  Let us bear with those who irritate us, and forgive those against whom we have a grievance.  If we do these things, truly do them, not just pay them lip service, God will transform us and we will experience joy.  I write this more out of having seen how it works in people whose faith I admire than out of personal experience.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

December 9, 2023 Bible Study — Rejoice in the Lord Always

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Philippians 1-4.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians contains some important ideas about how we should live our lives and what our attitudes should be.  He begins by telling us not to be concerned about why someone preaches the Gospel.  We should put our faith in the power of God.  We should rejoice when people preach about Christ, whether they do so with noble intentions or out of selfish ambition.  The Holy Spirit can and will use the words which they speak to reach those whom God has chosen.  The Spirit will even use those who misrepresent the Gospel.  So, while elsewhere Paul condemns those who lead people astray, here he reminds us that the Holy Spirit can use even the little bit of Truth that those who preach with false motives convey to bring people to know the Lord.

Having established that no matter what the motives of the speaker or the listener the Holy Spirit will use whatever bit of God’s Truth is conveyed to enter into people’s lives, he goes on talk about how we ought to approach such things.  He writes that those who serve God should be torn between continuing in this life and the death of our mortal bodies.  As long as we live, God has tasks for us to accomplish, but a much better life waits for us when we leave these mortal bodies.  The result of this means that we should neither fear death, nor should we seek it out.  The next point I want to make shows us what our attitude towards death should be.  We should humbly value others above ourselves.  So, while dying would be better for us, as long as we live we can serve others in some way.  No matter how we may suffer in this life, as long as we have life God has a purpose for us.  Let us seek to carry it out  by putting the interests of others ahead of our own without grumbling or arguing.

There is so much more in this passage, but I will stop here.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

December 8, 2023 Bible Study — God Gives Us Gifts in Order to Build Each Other Up

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Ephesians 4-6.

Paul writes that Christ gave gifts to His people in order to equip them for works of service so that the Body of Christ, the Church, may be built up until we reach unity of faith and knowledge.  The gifts which Paul here lists as being given by Christ, he elsewhere describes as gifts of the Spirit.  This is not a contradiction as Paul makes clear a few sentences later.  Paul writes that Christ joins and holds together the entire Body as it builds itself up in love.  So, Paul tells us that the gifts of the Spirit are given to us in order that we may build up our fellow members of the Body of Christ in love.

Because we are building each other in love, we must no longer live as the worldly live.  We must no longer indulge in sensuality, impurity, and greed.  Such behaviors are neither loving, nor do they assist in building others up.  Rather than doing such things we must be made new in the attitude of our minds.  As the new mind takes root in us we will speak truthfully in love and not allow anger to lead us into sin.  We should avoid unwholesome talk, which breaks down or denigrates others.  Instead let us say only those things which will benefit those who hear us speak.  Let us spend our time doing useful things with our hands so that we have resources which we can use to help those in need.  Let us say and do only those things which are loving and help others become better.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

December 7, 2023 Bible Study — God Has Transformed Us by His Grace, Let Us Pray That He Transforms Others in the Same Way

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Ephesians 1-3.

Paul writes that all of us were by our very nature and actions deserving of wrath.  Note that he does not say deserving of God’s wrath, although we were indeed deserving of God’s wrath.  No, Paul says that we, including himself, were deserving of wrath.  It reminds me of the terrible things done by Hamas, things deserving of wrath from every decent human being.  Paul writes that we are all just as deserving of wrath as those who committed those horrible acts on October 7th, and he is right.  Paul writes that the difference between us and those who committed those horrible acts, if there is indeed a difference, is the grace of God.  We have no basis for boasting about such a difference, because God may yet extend His grace to them as well, transforming them as He did us.  So, we have been saved from the evil of this world through no action of our own, solely by the grace of God.  In no way did our actions separate us from those who have committed atrocities, so we have no basis for condemning them.  Then Paul writes to explain why God gave us this grace by which He saved us.  He did so in order that we might perform the good works which He prepared for us to do.  Our prayers should not be to thank God for making us better than those who commit atrocities, nor should it be that He bring destruction upon them.  Rather we should pray that He pour out His Spirit upon them and transform them in the same way in which He transformed us.  I believe that is part of what Paul is getting at when he writes at the end of chapter 3 that God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.