Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-12-09


Studying the scripturai Lesson In
teIIiRcntIy and Probably.
Lesson for December ~.
Golden TEXT have fought a good
fight, have finished my course, have
kept the faith."-2 Tim. A.
This weeks subject IL Paul's last words
2 Tim. A. 1-S, 1918.
Introductory.
We come to the close of Paul's career,
and In this lesson study words OF his
written within few months of his death.
1t Is necessary to review so far as posi-
BILE the events Of the years that interven-
ed between the writing of the epistles to
Philemon, to the Colossians, Ephesians
and Philippians, during his Imprisonment
In 81, and the year of his death during
which 2 Timothy was probably written,
6S. 1t is practically certain that Paul
was released from his Roman prison mt
the close Of the two whole years trav-
eled through Asia, Macedonia and Crete,
and probably through Spain, and returned
to Rome prisoner again few months
before Nero's death, which occurred in
6S; suffering martyrdom during that year.
The only alternative to accepting these
differences is TO deny the genuineness Of
the three epistles attributed to these clos
ing months-1 and Timothy and Titus.
To go fully into the several passages
which prove the release and second i'm
prisonment Of Paul would take too much
time. A universal tradition Of the an
cieRt church was that he preached in
Spain, as he had long desired to do rom.
10: 19). Previous to this he went from
Rome to Macedonia, thence to Ephesus,
and probably made the desired visit to Co
losse philemon 22). After the conjec-
tured visit to Spain, of which we have
no particulars, he seems to have returned
to the east, and to have remained for a
time ut Ephesus, making brief journey
to Crete. Thence he Travelled westward
to NicOpolis, city in Epirus, the country
on the eastern shore Of the Adriatic sea,
northwest Of Macedonia and opposite
Italy Titus 3: 12). There he was arrest
ed, during the winter Of GIGS. He was
taken to Rome, and in all probability was
executed there in May or June Of the
year 6S, shortly before Nero's death. The
dates Of the three so-called pastoral epis-
Ties, l and z Timothy and Titus, thus
fall very close together; Timothy being
written from Macedonia shortly after
I'aurs leaving Ephesus, to warn and ad-
wise Timothy as to his important work
IN Epbesus; Titus being written after the
return to Epheeus, shortly after Paul had
been In Crete for similar purpose; and
Timothy being written from Rome be-
tween PauPs arrest and his death.
Too much reliance should not be placed
upon these dates, however. The impor-
tant thing Is to catch the spirit Of these
letters, written by the aged Paul--now
perhaps approaching seventy-to his
young friend and disciple Timothy, a man
Of thirty or thirty-fve years, who was
charged with responsible and difficult du-
ties in Ephesus.
Explanatory.
No ministerial charge to the candi-
date" ever exceeded this in solemnity.
The greatest apostle was about to leave
forever his earthly labors. Such words
as those of his charge had back of them
the accumulated force of whole lifetime
of labor and love. They sum up the man
in the very essence Of his character; re-
sponsibility to God and to man. That is
Paul. AS he has felt the compelling pow
er OF the charge laid upon him by Jesus
Christ, so he lays that burden now upon
his young successor.
BE instant in season, out of season.:
means, of course, be prompt to take adj
vantage of every opportunity, always and
everywhere
THE time will come when they will not
endure sound doctrine: il came very
speedily. Heresy was already in the
church, and grew rapidly during the clos
ing years of the century. 1t was finally
conquered, but not until many and the
first half of the following century. weak
ones had fallen away to ruin. The ex-
preston is not inapplicable to-day.
"DoVthe work OF an evangelist: an
evangelist was one who Travelled preach
ing the gospel; as distinguished from a
pastor who resided in one pace and had
tho oversight Of n single flock.
Il am now ready to be offered: it is a
peculiar and pathetic phrase that Paul
uses in referring to his death.
II have fought good fight: the trans
latiOn is not strictly correct. Paul says
rather, Il have won the glorious strug-
gle," and the struggle is a race, not a
boxing contest.
AT my first answer: should be "at my
first defense" 1t seems plain that Paul
here refers to his trial ut the close of his
first imprisonment.
II was delivered out of the mouth Of
the lion." This may be either metaphor
zeal or literal.
The sublime faith which could so speak
in the face of certain death, which Paul
must have known awaited him, Is the
crown Of his book. But do not lose the
human touch which the closing verses.
1877, add. Courtesy and thougbtfulness
for his friends remained in Paurs char
acter till the last. I,
Teaching Hints.
The two chief things which Paul urges
upon Timothy are faithfulness and alert
ness, the spiritual sense and the practical
sense. Paul probably had but little use
for stupid people.
The close Of Paul's life was a magnifi-
cent victory. He had done that for which
he was called-preached the gospel
throughout the whole world" and start
ed centers Of church life from which the
whole Christian world was to draw its
strength. He had run n race with death
and won. Death in it's physical form had
often threatened him, but he had been
warded off until his work was done. Death
in its more terrible aspect as the wages of
sin, the enemy of humanity, had been
his antagonist for thirty years, and he
had conquered darkness by letting In the
light, abohshed death for thousands of
his fellow men by leading them into the
life Of God.