Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-12-07
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON xi-DEC. l2-lI. TIM.
Ais, 1918.
Golden Text: II Have Fought u Good
Fight, 1 Have Finished My Course, I
Have Kept the Faith"-iI. Tim. ~
--Episttes or Timothy.

na'e ANept LINZ ~
--Episttes or Timothy.
Timothy Tho two Epistles TO Timothy
and the Epis,le to Titus are called Pas
toral Epistles because they relate to tho
pastoral Office. They are supposed to
nave been written after the Imprisonment
or Paul at Rene (Acts rs. 30) that is.
about &c or G7 a. D., and shortly before
his death. TimotheuS is first mentioned
in Acts 10. l. ). His father was Greek,
but his mother, Eunice, and grandmother.
ols, We're Jewesses q Tim. J. o. ). IA, l5).
lie vas circumcised and brought into the
Jewish covenant by Paul to render him
acceptable to the Jews. We read of him
again in Acts Il. IA: Is. o: 10. %. He was
With Paul when he wrote his Second Epis-
tie 10 the Corinthians in Macedonia, and
again IN Corlnth When he wrote the Epis-
tie 10 the Romans from. IS. 2D; and he
was one Of those who waited for Paul and
Luke at Troas (Acts 20. J. A. He was
with Paul also at the date of Col. .. Phi
lem. /, and Phil 1. /. We do not hear OF
him again Till 1 Tim. !. s. The First
t.pistie was apparently written before
PauPs last Imprisonment at Rome.
The Second Epistle to Timothy was
probably the last OF Paul's writings. He
was anxious for Timothy TO come to
MN at Rome and to bring Mark soon
as possible. q Tim. l. A. !. 9, II. 2D. He
was uncertain how it might fare with
him; lie was convinced that the time of
his departure was az hand g Tim 1. g.,
but he stili hoped that Timothy might be
able To come before winter G. Tim. 4. 2D;
he was then alone with Luke q Tim. 4. ID.
\ touching sadness pcrvades this epistle,
deepened 10y the final desertion Of Demas,
one OF his little band when he was before
in Rome (see the E,pistles to Philemon
and the Colossans); but it is still fun Of
D'1gnt hope G. Tim. 4. &, IS; l. ~. The
account of Timothy q Tim. g. TO- I'D cor
responds with that given in the Acts. He
was not with Paul, however. at Antioch,
but joined him shortly afterward, and
would have heard OF his troubles there as
a recent thing
Lesson Hymn
Il the good fight have fought" o when
shall i declare?
The victory by my Saviour got, long
with Paul to share.
Q may l triumph SO, when all my war
fares past:
And, dying, find my latest foe under my
feet at last!
This blessed word be mine, just as the
port is gained
Kept by the power of grace divine. I
have the faith maintained"
Charles Wesley.
The fun text of to-day's lesson is as fol-
lows:
/. l charge thee therefore before God.
judge the quick and the dead at his APP
pearing and his kingdon
& ireach the word; be instant in sea-
son, out of season; reprove rebuke ex-
hort with all long-suffering and doctrine
3. For the time will come when they
will not endure sound doctrine; but af-
ter their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears;
1. And they shall turn away their ears
from the truth, and shall be turned unto
fables.
.. But watch thou In all things, endure
afhictfonS, do the work of an evangelist
make full proof of thy ministry.
3. For am now ready TO be offered. and
the time OF my departure is at hand
z. nave fought good fight, l have fin
ished my course, / have kept the faith:
8. Henceforth there is laid up for me O.
crown of righteousness, which the Lord,
the righteous judge, shall give me at that
day: and not to ME only. but unto all
them also that love his appearing.
To- AT my first answer no man stood
with me. but all men forsook me; L pray
God that 1t may not be laid to their
charge.
II. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with
me, and strengthened me; that by me the
preaching might be fully known and that
all the Gentiles might hear: and / was
delivered out of the mouth of the lion
Is. And the Lord shall deliver me from
TO his heavenly kingdom: to whom DO
glory forever ana ever. Amen.
Hints to Teachers.
The aged apostle, just on the wing for
heaven. presents to his younger compan-
ion. soon to be left alone some motives
10 earnest work. Is Ii an Eiijah's last
counsels to his Elisha.
l. He should work in view of his Lords
appearing. Verse l. One day our absent
King will return to his earthly Kingdom.
and will call every servant to an account
FOR his stewardship Let us be ready for
that day. As the officers of q bank or an
insurance company do not know at what
moment the examiner viii come to omen
their books, SO We know not the hour of
our Masters coming.
H. He should work on account of the
needs or men. Verses 80. II mems ears
are itching for sensational teaching and
their hearts are hard, and their lasts
are depraved, ana their taste is for false
doctrine-that is all the more reason whv
We should redouble our earnestness and
overcome opposition and endure af-
tiictions in the service OF Christ We ore
not to please men. but % please our Mas
ter.
III. He should work because other work
ers are called home. Verses 6. z When
Paul is taken away. then Timothy must
take his place. When Elijah Is caught up
" heasen' IisHa HiuSt eaten up his man
tie Every leader who is called home
leaves charge to some one to become n
leader. God buries his workmen. hut
carries ON his work"
". He should work in view of his bea-
venly reward. Verse s. The crown of
righteousness is not laid up for Paul
alone. il Is for every disciple who lives
faithful to the end and looks for his
Lords appearing. What are the aNlic
tons OF earth to the giories of heaven?
Y. He should work because the Lord
stands by his side. Verses iG-lS He has
mighty, though invisible. Helper The
Lord Is with him, giving utterance and
strength and success. No matter though
he fall not one hair of his head shall per
ish. Even If he loses his life he shall nre-
serve ii for evermore.