somewhere between silence & screaming

So this is kind of a weird post, but that’s okay.  I’ve been all over the place in the Bible lately (currently residing in James, which often makes me go “Whoa” and check myself), but 2 books I continuously go back to are Paul’s letters to Timothy.  I have no good reason for this as these are considered “pastoral” books, or books about how to run the church, which I don’t do, but I enjoy them anyway.  

You can’t really read both 1 & 2 Timothy close together without realizing Paul has a certain phrase he likes to use over and over:  “Here is a trustworthy saying.”   It seems like he finds these things particularly important, so I wanted to pull them out for my own benefit & thought I’d blog them as well.  (Also, one is from Titus, but it’s a good one.)

Not going to try to analyze them or anything.  Just thought I’d share.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. (1 Timothy: 1:15-16)

Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.  Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.  (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. (1 Timothy 4:8-9)

Here is a trustworthy saying:

   If we died with him,
   we will also live with him;
   if we endure,
   we will also reign with him.
   If we disown him,
   he will also disown us;
   if we are faithless,
   he remains faithful,
   for he cannot disown himself. (2 Timothy 1:11-13)

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.(Titus 3:3-8)