Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-18

His piety must have been out
standing. for Paul speaks to him in
language not used elsewhere in the
New Testament, calling him Thou
man of God" q Tim. 1910.
1t has been thought by some that
! the character of the admonitions
that Paul gave him in the two let
! ters he wrote him indicate that he
had become discouraged by the per-
secutions and trials that he had to
undergo; and that ne was in danger
of lapsing into some of the heresies
and apostasies that were already be-
ginning to develop even in that clos
ing generation of the apostolic
church. 1t seems to me, however,
that this is presumng too much.
Paul was simply forewarning him
that he might be forearmed. To ad.
wise a man to be steadfast does not
at all imply necessarily that he has
wavered, but only that he be sure
not to let the pressure being brought
10 bear on him cause him to waver.
We cannot charge Timothy, there
| tore, with any lapse of faith.
His Circumstances
This really gives us a clue to the
circumstances under which he lived,
and appreciate that he was able to
weather the storm, we are brought
face to face with the man as he
| really was. Take that last letter
Paul wrote him, for example. Paul
gives him no less than twenty adj
montions, and these give us a graph,
r. nf 10 1eir CT q
rounding him. Think them through
as we record them: /. Stir I'D the
gift of God that is within you. 2. Be
thou partaker OF the Affections of
the gospel. 3. Be not ashamed OF
the testimony of the Lord. d. Hold
fast the form Sof sound words 5.
Keep that good thing which was
committed to thee. 6. Be strong in
the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 7.
Commit to faithful men. s. Suffer
hardships as good soldier. 9. Con
slider. 10. Remember Jesus Christ.
II. Put them in remembrance OF
these things. -. Study to show thy.
self approved unto God. 10. Flee
youthful lusts. a. Avoid foolish
questions. Is. Know that perilous
times are ahead, and turn away from
them. Is. Continue with the things
that thou hast learned. II. Preach
the Word, etc. IS. Watch thou in
all things, etc. 10. Do your best to
come to me shortly, before winter
anyway. 20. Bring by cloak and
the parchments.
A glance at these will reveal to
you that it was beginning to be I'M
popular to testify and that those who
did were ridiculed, that all sorts of
vaaaries were beginning to be pro-
claimed as the truth, making it
necessary for him to hold fast, to
avoid foolish questions and to con
tinue in the things that he had
learned as q child from the Word
Of God. and develop a teaching min.
istry which could continue the work.
1t also reveals that a man who
stood fOursquare for the truth had
to pay dearly for it. That Timothy
did both, cannot be doubted a mo-
ment.
What was it that made this young
man so attractive to Paul and such
a model that Paul could say to him,
be thou an example to the belieV-
ers, in word. in Versation. in
manner of life, in love, in spirit. in
faith. in purity?" What was it that
enabled him to live in the midst of
error, Of indifference, Of open hos.
tility to the truth, of satirical criti-
ciSm. and yet stand true-weather
the storm?
All. we can discover the secret Of
it all in the early training which
his godly grandmother and mother
had given him-grounding him in
Holy Scriptures which are able to
make him wise unto Salvation; and
which, being God-breathed, are prof
liable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in right
eousness that the man of God might
he complete, thoroughly furnished
unto every good work
IF you will read the third chapter
Of II Timothy, first five verses. you
will find q very striking picture of
1929. Under these circumstances
what Is it that will enable you and
the people of this country to stand
firm, to weather the storm? 1t is
the same knowledge of the Holy
Scriptures that steadied and saved
Timothy. Are you studying them, to
show yourself approved unto God?
Do you know how to handle Alright
the Word of Truth? Are you doing
anything to give the Bible to the
children of this country? The re.
cent action Of the board of educa-
ton of Atlanta in denying to the
parents the right to have their chill
! dren excused for two thjrtY-minute
/ periods a. week for the purpose OF
having them taught the Bible shows
| the extent to which the enemy Of
| truth has succeeded in undermining
| the very foundation of character.
| What country or person can stand
without moral character? What can
| develop moral character but reli
| gion? What religion can exist with
out the knowledge of the Bible? Tim
| othy's faith, unselfish service. and
piety grew out of his early train
| ing in the Bible. Study the Book,
and make it possible for others to
study it.