2 Timothy 4:13 – “…When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments….”

This seemingly unimportant comment in the closing section of Paul’s letter to Timothy contains a message from the Holy Spirit for us today. We remember that all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)  Paul mentions three items here, and urges Timothy to remember to carry with him. The Bible often mentions symbolic items in sets of three to illustrate the operation of the Trinity in our spiritual lives.

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2 Timothy 4:3-5 - “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

The New Testament prophecies say that before the Lord’s Return, there will be a “Great Apostasy” (2 Thessalonians2:3), or falling away from the Truth, among those who call themselves Christians.  We see the evidence of this all around us, and it is important to dedicate ourselves completely to the Lord lest we fall into the same trap.   continue

“…But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power.  Have nothing to do with them.” - 2 Timothy 3:1-5

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2 Timothy 2:15 - “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and active.”

God spoke through the Scriptures when He first gave them to people, and He is still speaking through His Word today.  As mature believers, we need to have both types of revelation through the Bible. 

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2 Timothy 1:6 - “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

1 Timothy 5:22 - “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others.”

Laying hands (extending the hand in the air) was the way to confer authority, blessing, or anointing in the Old Testament.  Examples include the Patriarchal blessing (see, e.g., Genesis 48:14-17), special prayers for a large group of people or a nation (see Exodus 9:29-33; Exodus 17:11-16; Leviticus 9:22). It was the way they raised people to the ministry (see, e.g., Numbers 8:10; Numbers 27:23; Deut. 34:9) It was also used to transfer SIN from the people to the scapegoat in Leviticus 16:21 (see also Exodus 29:15-19; Leviticus 4:15, Leviticus 8:14-18).  There are numerous examples throughout the Old Testament.  The apostles continued this practice in the early church, and we do so today.

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