2 Peter

 The Second Letter of Peter  

Title: Both authorship (1:1) and the number (3:1) can be attested from the letter itself. The fact that he presents himself as Simeon Peter brings up the memories of the First Jerusalem counsel (Acts 15:14).      

Date of writing: Apparently, this is one of the later writings. There are few factors to consider: he never says anything bad about gentiles (unlike in the First Epistle); he mentions St. Paul – our beloved brother Paul (3:15) – and his writings; regularly he goes to the theme of Parousia (eminent and soon-to-be second coming of Christ). The idea of suffering is not dominant (thou present, cp. 2:9), while the notes on behavioral godliness can be found throughout the letter. Therefore, it should be dated around 64-65 AD.        

Structure:

a. 1:1-4 Greetings.

  b. 1:5-12, godly qualities

    c. 1:13-16, I send you a reminder.

      d. 1:17-21, glory of Christ and truth of the Biblical prophecy.

        e. 2:1-3, False prophets.

          f. 2:4, angels

            g. 2:5-10, salvation of the fallen world

          f’. 2:11, angels

        e’. 2:12-16, prophetic madness, like irrational animals.

      d’. 2:17-22, knowledge of Christ and the truth of the parable. 

    c’. 3:1-13, this is the second letter. 

  b’. 3:14-16, be without spot or blemish. 

a’. 3:17-18, conclusion.

Main themes: Getting ready for the Second Coming of Christ. This theme has two important parts: (1) the coming is imminent; (2) the evildoers will be judged.

The second important theme is the false teachers who deny the security of Second Coming. It can include the false prophets (old and new), disobedient angels, and preachers of lawlessness (those of propagate anti-nomism).

Assurance is the divine nature of the Scriptures – the words of godly man (authors of Old and New Testaments) were guided by the Holy Spirit. 

Main Characters: Peter; Jesus Christ (he refers both to the experience of Transfiguration [“we” should include also John and James (Mt. 17:1)] and his own deep understanding of Lord’s glory); Noah; Lot; Balaam, son of Beor, and his donkey; “our beloved brother Paul”.   

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: Old Testament – Noah, Lot, and Balaam (all three stories have moral degradation component); Proverbs 26:11 does not give a “wise saying” on a dog, but also delivers a teaching on foolish behavior.

Gospel texts – Transfiguration (Mt. 17:1-8; Mk. 8:2-8; Lk. 9:28-36).

Other NT: reference to St. Paul; morning star (cp. Rev. 22:16).       

Lutheran teaching:

The hallmark of the Lutheran church is salvation only by God’s grace without any of human works (Ap. XX:12-13; FC SD IV:1-22,33) based on 2 Pet. 1:10.  

The Doctrine of Free Will and Election (FC Epitome XI:14; SD II:49; XI:28, 83-84) is heavily based on the epistle.  

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 873 – Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

LSB 416 – Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory

Relevancy of the Book: The letter has at least two important messages for a modern man. The course of the world’s history sooner or later will come to its end. Christ will come to evaluate the deeds of people: righteous will be transformed into His glory and evil doers (especially false teachers) will reach their ugly end. The knowledge about this is based on written, inerrant, and inspired Word of God.     

Memory verses: 

2:19-21: And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamb shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your heart, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

 

1 Peter

First Letter of St. Peter   

Title: First letter of St. Peter. There are doubts among liberal scholars. They are based on usage of complex theological and profound grammatical constructions. Taking into an account that he was “a simple fisherman”. Reading the Bible carefully, shows that this simple fisherman knew 4 languages (to some extent).        

Date of writing: TLSB tells before 67AD. It can be right. The reason for the date is also supported by the naming of Sylvanus (2 Cor. 1:19) and Mark (Acts. 12:35; 13:13; 15:36-40). On the other hand, the Gentiles in the letter are painted only negative. It is very difficult to imagen St. Peter doing this after the conversion of Cornelius (Acts 10 – 11). Therefore, it is better to place it at the beginning of Church history (30-33 AD).       

Structure:

a. 1:1-3a, Greetings

  b. 1:3b-9, faith and trials  

    c. 1:10-25, Good news and it’s impact on life   

      d. 2:1-10, put away deceit, hypocrisy, envy etc.

        e. 2:11-12, call to good conduct

          f. 2:13-17, obedience to the authorities (v 13 and 17 – emperor/king)

            g. 2:18-25, servants

            g’. 3:1-6, wives

          f’. 3:7, husbands

        e’. 3:8-22, zealous for good

      d’. 4:1-11, gentiles live in sensuality, passions, drunkenness etc..

    c’. 4:12-19, blessing in suffering for Christ

  b. 5:1-11, care and submission

a’. 5:12-14, Final greetings

Main themes: Faith in Christ (1:8 – without seeing, cp. John 20:24-29, story of Thomas). Apparently, St. Peter addresses people who have only heard about the Cross, Resurrection, and Pentecost. Therefore, he brings up the “job description for the Messiah” idea grounded in the words of the prophets (1:10-12).     

Sufferings as a participation in the sufferings of Christ. Three main reasons for suffering : (1) form us into the image of Christ; (2) devil’s hate of the Word effects those who are faithful to the Word; (3) keep us on our toes – disciple’s factor.   

Submission as the main paradigm of relationship. Social, trade, and family relationship are based on the example of Christ and godly people (Sarah, 3:6).   

Main Characters: Peter writing to the Elders – representatives of the churches in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (very prominent settlements of Jews in the Roman empire). 

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: Call of the holy people is based on the story of Exodus and the Sinai covenant (Ex. Ch. 19 – 20; Lev. 11). The separation of the people of God is reflected in every aspect of life.   

Theology of Zion is very important part of the Letter. Zion as a fortress, place of worship etc. with the LORD Himself as the cornerstone (Isaiah + Psalms).

Lutheran teaching: The theme of repentance, faith, and love as the fulfillment of the Law is discussed with the support from the Second and Fourth chapters of the Letter (Ap. V (III):117, 118; XII (V):65; XXI (IX): 31; LC, I:272, 285).

At least twice we find the passages from 3^rd chanter of the epistle in the Large Catechism explaining the sacrament of the Holy Baptism (LC, IV: 24, 82). Main idea: baptism saves!

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 616 – Baptismal Waters Cover Me

LSB 770 – What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Relevancy of the Book: Reading the First Letter of St. Peter is beneficial on at least three levels. First, the apostle presents very deep theological ideas connecting the sacrifice of Christ with the rituals of OT institutions. Second, he prepares us for the proper understanding of suffering (very important for our pain-avoiding culture). Third, the guidelines for godly conduct are described as a pattern of servitude – as Christ served us submitting to the Father, we can serve each other and the world. This is a radical teaching for our power struggle-based society.   

Memory verses:  

1:18-19: you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

JAMES

Letter of James   

Video: (YouTube) is here.   

Title: Letter of James should be called Letter of Jacob. This might bring up many associations of Jacob the Patriarch who had his fair share of trials, defending himself against the rich, relying on the wisdom from above.    

Date of writing: very early (30-33 AD), probably before St. Paul came to prominence. This is the reason why James 2:14-26 should not be read as a polemic against Rom 4 and 5. Unlike St. Paul, James had a very different audience in mind (the people who actually were brought to diaspora because of Saul [St. Paul], cp. Acts 7-8).   

Structure:

a. 1:1 Greeting to 12 tribes in dispersion.

  b. 1:2-15 Trials, wisdom, and riches

    c. 1:16-25, good gifts from above.

      d. 1:26 – 2:13, bridle the tongue.

        e. 2:14-17 faith without works is dead (v.17).

        e’. 2:18-26, faith without works is dead (v.26).

      d’. 3:1-12, taming of tongue.

    c’. 3:13 – 4:12   wisdom from above. 

  b’. 4:13-18, trials, riches

a’. 5:19-20, saving the wanderer.

Main themes:

Trials. How do we perceive them: is it God who smacks us, or our own lifestyle got us in trouble (1:13-15). Also, an important issue, how to respond if we are persecuted unjustly: push back or bear with patience? (5:7-11)  

Wisdom. The Letter of James sometimes is seen as a collection of random wise sayings, something like a NT reflection on the Book of Proverbs. Yet, both of them have a deep structure. Also, both bring up the fact that the Wisdom comes from above (3:13,17; cp. Prov. 8).

Relations with the rich. It is important to identify the rich. On the one hand James speaks of people in fine clothing with golden rings. It points to the earthly riches. At the same time these signs can point to “covenantal riches” (cp. Rom. 9:4-5).   

Order in the congregation achieved by the control of the tongues, by the leaders or teachers (rabbis) and the lay members of the community.     

Main Characters: Jacob; Brothers/my beloved brothers (he is not addressing a company or a firm, he appeals to the family); “rich” and traders (4:13-17). Historical examples: Abraham and Isaac, Rahab, Job, Elijah. 

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: God Who created everything, knows all things, controls everything, and guides our lives to the proper End. (Gen. 1:1 – 2:3). It can be seen in the times of trials – Job is sustained by his faith in his Redeemer (Job 19; 42:10-17; cp. James 4:10).

There are a few exiles in the Bible. Adam and Eve are “exiled” from the Garden (Gen. 3:23-24), Israel got into the Babylonian captivity. Yet, God always provided a “comforter” – Jeremiah sent a letter to the ones in diaspora (Jer. 29:1-23).    

Lutheran teaching: Luther is very often quoted for his “rejection” of the Epistle. It is true that at the time of translation of the New Testament, he used the analogy of “straw” to describe James. On the other hand, in his later works Dr. Luther stated that the Epistle is ‘a good book, because it sets up no doctrine of men but vigorously promulgates the law of God (LW 35:395).

Apology of Augsburg Confession has the whole section on relationship between faith and works based on the Epistle (Ap. V:123-132).  

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 528 – Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to sing (1:26-27)

LSB 846 – Your Hand, o Lord, in Days of Old (5:14-16)

 Relevancy of the Book: The epistle is important to us for at least three reasons. It sets the patterns of order in the congregation – not quarrelling, but relying on the wisdom from above, all matters should be solved in peace and reason (3:17). Second, the orderly life also can be reflected in the way the church treats the powerful figures of this world. James/Jacob argues for avoiding partiality. Which leads to the third lesson of the Epistle. The rich will assault the church, therefore, in the light of forthcoming tribulations, we need to learn and train ourselves to set aside zealotry, but practice patience in sufferings, confessing our sins, and calling back the wanderers.   

Memory verses:  

4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  

Hebrews

 Letter to Hebrews  

Title: The title “to Hebrews”, unlike many of Pauline letters, is taken from the traditional listings of the letters (at least by the second half of the II century AD by Clement of Alexandria). Yet, the text for sure was known earlier. Clement of Rome [who died in 96 AD] quotes the passages it the “letter.” The letter also is a conditional title. There is a final greeting (13:22-25), but there is none in the beginning of the letter, which is a strong sign against epistolary genre. I personal idea (IMHO): it was a presentation (13:22, exhortation) for the gathering of overseers/bishops (12:15) that later was distributed or sent to other regions (13:22 could be translated as “sent” not “written”).     

Date of writing: Nowhere else in the Bible we hear about the imprisonment of Timothy – it should happen after or during his deployment to Ephesus. On the other hand, it should be completed at least a couple of years before 70 AD, overwise the comparison with the sacrificial “current” system (9:25, notice the present tense) would not make any sense. Therefore, connecting the great anti-Roman revolt of 66-70 AD in Jerusalem with 12:4, the letter was written 67-68 AD.           

Structure: adapted (and improved) from TLSB, p. 2104:

A. 1:1-3a, Intro: Christ is the true and final revelation

  B. 1:3b – 10:18, Superiority of Jesus

a. 1:3b – 2:18, superiority over angels

b. 3:1 – 4:13, superiority over Moses

c. 4:14 – 7:28, superiority over priesthood, Jesus is new Melchizedek.

d. 8:1 – 10:18, superiority of His sacrifice

  B’. 10:19 – 13:19, Exhortation to Faithfulness

a. 10:19-39, invitation to faithfulness

  b. 11, OT examples of faithfulness

    c. 12:1-13, Jesus the faithful

  b’. 12:14 – 13:29, warning based on OT examples of disobedience

a’. 13:1-19, final exhortation   

A. 13:20-21, Final blessings

    C. 13:22-25, “Epistle” greeting attachment

Main themes: As one can see from the structure, there are two MAIN themes: superiority of Jesus and, based on the confidence of access to the holy place because of Him, exhortation to faithfulness.

Main Characters:

As presenters:	As characters:
author/presenter (I believe – St. Paul) Timothy, leaders, all the saints, Italians	Angels, Moses, Melchizedek, Aaron, priests, list of the OT saints (both man and women).

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: to understand and fully appreciate the Letter to Hebrews one needs to know:

Story of Creation (Gen. 1:1 – 2:3)

Angelic role in the world (Gen. 3:22-24; Ps. 8, 91; Job 1-2; Is. 6:1-6; Lk. 1:19, 2:13-15; 1 Cor. 6:3 etc.)

The story of Moses (Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)

Structure of the OT liturgical system: priests, sacrifices, calendar etc.

Story of the Patriarchs (Gen. 11 – 50) 

There are many things that are good to know, but it’s too long of a list for us.

Lutheran teaching: It is a well-known fact that Luther had “suspicions” on place of the Epistle in the Canon of Scripture. Yet, holding his reservations to himself, Luther wrote on the author and the content of the Letter, “we should be satisfied with the doctrine that he [author] bases so constantly on Scripture. For discloses a firm grasp of the reading of the Scriptures and of the proper way of dealing with them” (LW 35:395).   

OT sacrificial system was transformed through the sacrifice of Christ. Pastors are not the mediators but the ministers of grace (AC XXIV:36).    

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 834 – O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth

LSB 520 – Stars of the Morning, So Gloriously Bright

Relevancy of the Book: The author shows with depth the superiority of Jesus as the Messiah over any created element of the world, be it angels, humans, rituals, or sacred space. He Himself created the world and paid the price to redeem the brokenness of the world. Now we are invited to enjoy the benefits of this redemption and follow His footsteps as the agents of the world’s transformation.       

Memory verses: 9:27 “As it is appointed for man to die once, and after that judgement comes”.   

Philemon

 Letter of St. Paul to Philemon   

Title: The title is given based on the main recipient of the epistle. Philemon come from Greek Philéo (to love, to show signs of love [Mt. 26:48]). The name can be translated as “the affectionate one” or “the one who kisses”.                         

Date of writing: The epistle should precede or have the same date as the Letter to Colossians (cp. 1:10 and Col.4:9). It depends on our understanding of the “negotiations” between St. Paul and Philemon – either apostle settles the matter before sending Onesimus or sends him hoping for/relying on the godliness of his addressee (1:21).

Also, having Timothy and Demas in one letter temporal conundrum (cp. 2 Tim. 4:9-10). This challenge can be solved through assumed repentance and return of Demas to “team Paul”. This proposition of later date (after 2 Tim.) can give an explanation to a better mood in comparison to 2 Tim. – St. Paul asks Philemon to prepare a room for him (1:22) for he is ready to be released and travel again.                           

Structure:

a. 1:1-3, Greetings

 b. 1:4-7, Example of Philemon’s love and faith

  c. 1:8-12, I, Paul, appeal

   d. 1:13-14, he served me/on your [possible] consent.

  c’. 1:15-19, I, Paul, write.    

 b’. 1:20-22, Philemon’s [expected] obedience.

a’. 1:23-25, final greetings (a+a’=10 people total)  

 

Main themes: The main theme is a complex understanding of slavery in Ancient World and theology of St. Paul. There is a need to reconcile Gal. 3:28 and 1 Cor. 7:21-22. We do not know the final status of Onesimus in the household of Philemon and can rely only on Paul’s encouragement in 1:16.

The theme of father-son and brotherly relationship instituted via sacrament of the Holy baptism. The apostle sends Onesimus as his son which he begot through the conversion (and assumed baptism) of the latter. He also writes to the congregation in Colossae that from now on Onesimus is their brother (Col. 4:9).

Taking into consideration the timely matters (see Date of Writing) one needs to pay attention to the theme of repentance and acceptance back into a ministerial collegiate of failed fellow workers. Both Demas (2 Tim. 4:9-10) and Mark (Acts. 12:25; 13:13; 15:37-40) ended up being reunited with the Apostle.             

Main Characters: St. Paul to Philemon

Co-signers	Receivers
Timothy Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke	Apphia (most likely Philemon’s wife), Archippus, Church in Philemon’s house

        

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: The epistle can be seen as a NT commentary on the progression we see first in Torah (Ex. 22:20; Deut. 23:15-16). From “no murdering of a slave” and “no ill treatment to a foreigner” (Ex. 21:20-21; 22:21) through “no ill treatment to a slave” (Deut. 23:16) to receive him “as a beloved brother” (Phil. 1:16).

Family-based relationship within the Church also presented in Gal. 4:19 where St. Paul presents himself as a woman in the pains of child-baring (cp. Gen 3:16; Num.11:11-12; Lk. 13:34).

The theme of hospitality is an important part of Pauline epistles within the Canon of Scriptures (cp. Rom. 12:13; 1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8; Heb. 13:2 and Gen. 18; Ex. 2:15b-22; 1 Kg. 17:8-24; 2 Kg. 4:1-7, 8-37).          

Lutheran teaching: Book of Concord has only one reference to the Epistle as an illustration on obedience to God’s will (FC SD IV: 17).

Lutheran hymnody: LSB 845 – Where Charity and Love Prevail

Relevancy of the Book: In our world of social distress the Epistle to Philemon gives us the paradigm for the reconciliation between different groups: masters and servants, leaders and the flock, colleagues. The unity given to the people in Christ is the perfect unity of sinful people around forgiving God. As a result, we have an example of encouragement to share the faith not only through the preaching the Word (which is very important), but also by means of social actions.                

Memory verses: 1:6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.  

Titus

 Letter of St. Paul to Titus   

Title: This is the third of the pastoral letters of St. Paul (1-2 to Timothy and to Titus). Titus means either “honorable” or “strong/giant”.                       

Date of writing: The Lutheran Study Bible states that the date of writing 68 AD. Possible, but I might suggest a bit earlier date, around 64 AD. The reason is based on the fact that the only time, according to the Book of Acts, St. Paul stops at Crete is on the way to Rome (Acts 27:7-8). The proper identification of the date can be based on the understanding of Nicopolis (3:12). There are three readings of this town – (1) town on the West coast of Greece, (2) town between Jerusalem and Jaffa, (3) St. Paul uses it as a symbolic name “city of victory” for Rome, hoping to achieve judicial victory and being vindicated.               

Structure:

a. 1:1-4, Greetings

 b. 1:5-9, elders and bishop

  c. 1:10-16, dealing with insubordination etc.

   d. 2:1-2, older men

    e. 2:3-4a, older women

    e’. 2:4b-5, younger women

   d’. 2:6-8, younger men

  c’. 2:9-3:2, submissiveness of bondservants   

 b’. 3:3-11, turning from disobedience

a’. 3:12-15, final greetings

 

Main themes: Qualifications for the leaders of the church – both the presbyters/elder and the bishop/overseer. It looks like the St. Paul charged Titus to install one bishop over the island, at the same time instructing him to install several elders. If this conclusion is true, it might help us in understanding of the proper roles of bishops as the overseers of a region, while the elders were the leaders on a congregational level.    

Important inputs on godly behavior for a variety of church members. In a very concise form, the apostle lays out the needed instructions for the moral standards of the older and younger generation of believers.   

Letter to Titus is yet another example where we can observe the interconnection of the mission field. Wherever Nicopolis might be (see “date of writing”), St. Paul asks people to move around the Mediterranean area according to his understanding of the current needs of the mission/church.          

Main Characters: Paul, Titus, Artemas, Tychicus, Zenas and Apollos            

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: There are at least three topical parallels of Titus with the other two pastoral epistles of St. Paul: Christological foundation for the teaching and confession of the church; the need for the transformed leadership of the new Body of Christ and high moral standards for leaders; and the practical ethical lessons the preachers should deliver to their congregations.   

Lutheran teaching: St. Paul greets his younger colleague Titus reminding him of God’s faithfulness to His promises and the fact that God never lies (1:2, cp. Num 23:19). Our confessors use this statement many times throughout the Book of Concord (LC I:46,165; III:120; IV:57; V:14; FC Ep. VII:13; FC SD VII:23).

Probably, the most famous usage of the passage from the Epistle can be found in the Small Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther. Chapter four talks about the magnitude of impact of baptismal waters on the life of a person based on Tit. 3:5-8.

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 599 – O Gracious Lord, with Love Draw Near (Tit. 3:5-8)

LSB 517:11 – St. Timothy and St. Titus   

Relevancy of the Book: The epistle is the most compact manual for the godly church life. In only three chapters the apostle asserts the deepest theological convictions, gives needed instruction on the question of the church governance, and sets the moral standards for the Christian living for the people of God.           

Memory verses: 

3:5 – He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. 

2 Timothy

 2 Letter of St. Paul to Timothy   

Title: This is the Second letter St. Paul wrote to his “child” Timothy. Apparently, there is almost a decade between the letters (see 1 Tim, Date of Writing).   

Date of writing: This Epistle is easy to date – Paul in in Rome (1:16-17; 4:17b), he had his first hearing (4:16), still in chains (2:9a). Luke wrote that Paul spent [at least] two years in Rome (Acts 28:30-31). Putting all these indications together, the letter can be dated around 65 AD.

Date of Narrative: There are two important temporal directions: current situation of St. Paul and reminiscence of Timothy’s upbringing.  

Structure:

a. 1:1-7, Greetings and thanks

 b. 1:8-18, Paul’s difficulties (names)

  c. 2:1-13, my son, share what you have heard from me.

   d. 2:14-19, Godly worker avoiding shameful people.

    e. 2:20-21, vessels in the house of God

    e. 2:22-26, you flee passions, pursue righteousness.

   d’. 3:1-9, Avoid ungodly people

  c’. 3:10 – 4:5, You follow my teaching.

 b’. 4:6-18, Paul’s difficulties (names)

a’. 4:19-22, Final greetings.

 

Main themes: There can be deduced two main themes. First, the most obvious, faithfulness and piety of a minister. In the realm of faithfulness, the Apostle brings up three examples: soldier (2:3-4; cp. Eph. 6:12-17), athlete (2:5, cp. 1 Cor 9:25), and a hard-working farmer (2:6; cp. Ps. 126:5-6).

On a more subtle level: readers can see a theme of Apostle’s personal disappointment, especially as his case develops. He was not able to defend himself at the first hearing, there are many who are doing him harm, and [maybe] he is not sure that he will be freed. Yet, in all these circumstances he trusts in the Lord and sees that even court rooms can be used for proclamation of the Word, and Lord will take him to heavenly kingdom (4:17b; cp. Phil 1 and 2).         

Main Characters: Paul, Timothy. People are sending greetings to Timothy: Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers.

Those who support Paul	Those who oppose Paul	Those who left Paul
Lois, grandmother of Timothy Eunice, mother of Timothy Household of Onesiphorus, Mark, Tychius, Carpus   Prisca and Aquila Erastus and Trophimus	Phygelus, Hermogenes, Hymaneus and Philetus, Alexander the coppersmith	Demas to Thessalonica Crescens to Galatia Titus to Dalmatia [only Luke is with me]

 

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: Four steps pattern of the discipleship is based on the family pattern of Psalms (78:5-7) and societal testimonies in the times of the Prophets (Joel 1:3-5)

References to the Old Testament sacrificial system (4:6). Drink offering typology drawn from Ex. 29:38-41 and Num 28:1-8.

Lutheran teaching: Scripture is the norm and the standard for all teachings. It should be exercised for proclamation of the Word and rebuking of sinful men (FC, Ep. Sum:1; FC, SD Sum:14; FC SD VI:14; FC SD XI:12).

“While holiness of life and obedience to Christ are expected of all members of the congregation, it is especially important that you, as office-bearers in His Church, show yourself, by word and example, to be faithful to Him in service and Christian devotion”. LSB: Agenda, p. 247 (installation of congregational officers). 

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 587 – I Know My Faith is Founded (2 Tim.1:12).

LSB 666 – Little Flock, Fear Not the Foe (2 Tim. 4:18).

Relevancy of the Book: The Epistle is important for the life of a Christian for [at least] two reasons. We can learn a proper perspective on life and this world from struggling apostle Paul full of expectation to be re-united with the Lord in heaven. Also, the world then and now is full of impurity, yet God wants us not only wait for heaven, but to pursue righteousness, faith love, and peace here (2:22).

Memory verses:  3:16-17: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.