| NASB | NLT | VOICE |
| 13 Hold on to the example of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. | 13 Hold on the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me – a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. | 13 Remember the words that you heard from me. Retain them as the model for healthy and sound teaching in the faith and love that are available in Jesus the Anointed. |
| 14 Protect, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. | 14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you. | 14 As for the precious thing entrusted to you, protect it with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. |
The pattern Paul describes is more of a model or a blueprint. Paul’s teaching Timothy something that is not random, but structured and intentional. In the early church, it was important to keep doctrinal purity. This means staying true to what the word of God teaches. This was crucial due to the rise of false teachers. Paul wants Timothy to lead by healthful doctrine. This doctrine is life-giving and aligns with the truth of the Gospel. Timothy heard this from Paul himself. Paul, as an apostle, had the authority and duty to pass on the teachings of Christ. The instruction is personal. It reminds us of the mentorship. It also reflects the accountability within the body of Christ.
Faith and love are core tenets of the Christian life. Faith is the truth and belief in the truth of the Gospel. Love is the practical outwork of that faith in relationship with each other. Timothy’s teachings should be based on these tents. They should show that the Gospel isn’t just intellectual. It is also relational and ethical. The source of this faith and love is found in Jesus. Through Jesus, believers see the perfect example and empowerment to live out these virtues.
Upholding sound doctrine must be done through faith and love. Can we live a life that shows God’s principles through faith and love? Are we sharing what God has done for us through faith and love? Are we caring for those around us through faith and love? Are we standing up for each other through faith and love? If any of your answers to these questions is “no” in any capacity, reevaluate the doctrine you were taught. It is necessary to reconsider the teachings you received. You also need to look at the doctrine you are learning now. This is a tough statement to read, I know. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t believe I had to. Some Christians still want to lead via a doctrine of judgment, rule-obeying, condemnation, and punishment. We must continue to show that those things are secondary in our focus. We need to be faithful and loving. We must showcase these qualities through the doctrine we abide by. It should also show in how we communicate, abide, and obey.
Timothy is being taught to protect and preserve the Gospel message – the sound doctrine and teachings of Jesus Christ. To protect this, one must be vigilant and careful. They must watch how it’s being taught and understand the circumstances under which it is taught. Timothy is trusted to protect this for future generations. Timothy can do all this through the help of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would be Timothy’s, and our, source of strength and guidance to fulfill God’s commands. The Holy Spirit resides inside of us. This presence is a source of comfort, assurance, and power. It enables Christian to live out their faith and fulfill their divine calling.
Like Timothy, we are called to be responsible and stewards the gifts and truths God has given them. We use our faith and love. We are called to be responsible with the time, talents, and treasure God has given us. Too often, we see the verbatim scripture in front of us misused. It is misused as a foundation for war. It becomes a foundation for judgment. It is used as a reason to exclude people from certain resources, rights, and relationships. God’s word is built on his love for us. By faith, we are responsible for living out the commands and principles. These were taught through Jesus’ example. How we do that is through our time, talents, and treasures. We can showcase our love by investing in ministry – help our next generation learn about the teachings of God. We can showcase our love by listening to the struggles and pain of members of our community. We can speak up for the marginalized around us. We can volunteer at shelters, food pantries, and more to help confirm the needy are being taken care of. We must not misuse the teachings of scripture. Instead, we should honor it, abide by it, and share it through love and faith. We need to live it out through our words and actions.
Use this verse for prayer today. See if there is another verse that comes to mind for you in that prayer. Use that verse to see how your times, talents, or treasures can help the Kingdom of God.
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