A I besought thee to abide still
at Ephesus, when I went into
Macedonia, that thou mightest
charge some that they teach
no other doctrine, neither
give heed to fables and endless
genealogies, rather than godly
edifying which is in faith, so do.
1Timothy 3-4
The hope of salvation and eternal happiness of Paul was the Person and atonement of Jesus Christ. Paul in writing to the Colossian Christians wrote: "to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). This hope of salvation and glory is our hope in Him, Jesus Christ, and our hope of eternal life is founded on Jesus Christ, His work on the cross, the payment of the debt owed to God paid by God, through His Son Jesus Christ. Timothy converted to Christianity, not just due to his grandmother's teaching, although this was an important part, it was by what was being taught that the Holy Spirit convicted Timothy showing him that he was a sinner and only God could save him, and this He did through the death, resurrection and ascension into heaven by Jesus Christ. Was this not you calling, you heard, read, the Bible and through what you heard, read, you realized that you are a sinner and that you needed a savior, and that Savior was Jesus Christ, you converted, and then you grew in faith, in knowledge, and you are making your election sure. All this because God called you, God enabled you (John 6) and you responded. It may have taken time to rid yourself of some sin(s) but you persevered and your faith became Authentic Christian Faith. Your hope is assured and secure.
Paul reminded Timothy that only the doctrine that he had taught them was to be taught to others and that he was not to lend an ear to fables, and endless genealogies. That reminding is our reminding as well but many are seeking genealogies, as do the Mormons, why, Mormons what to find if they have any relationship to the early apostles, and there are many fables, those things that are based upon speculation and not Scripture: i.e., those writing about the "end times," or about "the Second Coming of Jesus Christ" or about some sort of "dispensation," and on and on go the fables.
Doctrine, oh, how many hate that word, they attempt in many ways to avoid this subject, and yet, doctrine is at the heart of the Bible's teaching. So many doctrines in so many denominations, confusing, each saying that they have the truth, and when we study Church history we find that this battle and debate has always existed in the Church. Most likely the biggest battle over a doctrine was the doctrine of who Jesus Christ was, and is, i.e., Arius, Socinians, Judaizers, Gnostics, of old, and now we have the Modalist, the Unitarians, Jehovah Witnesses, the Mormons, and more, all having a doctrine of who Jesus Christ is and how salvation is possible through Him.
So, what is the truth? We will look at Scripture, and some of the early men of the Church to see what was believed and taught that stood against those whose doctrine was different from what the Apostles of Jesus Christ taught. Therefore, the divinity of Jesus Christ, the foremost doctrine of the Church must be studied, examined, so that we can come to a Scriptural understanding of who Jesus is, why He came to earth, and furthermore, is He God, is He of the same essence of God? Would you not like to have more arrows for your quiver? Would you not like to be able to defend your faith, a faith based upon the doctrine of Jesus according to Scripture? If so, then while this study will be somewhat long it will give you ammunition to face those who oppose you, oppose the truth of the Bible.
The apostle John wrote in his epistle that we call one of the four Gospels: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). A most famous and recognized verse by most Christians, but many do not have a good understanding of this verse and its importance when they have to face those who use this verse to attempt to prove that Jesus was not God, but a god. Arius taught his doctrine of Jesus that He was not God, or of the same essence as God, rather that God created Jesus to be a god with his own essence. Jehovah Witnesses follow that line of thought and doctrine. Critical thinking and good logic along with factual understanding why this Scripture was written by John in this fashion will aid us to understand what the early Church Fathers taught and believed that was in line with the doctrines that Paul, Peter, Philip, and others taught as to what they had learned from Jesus as they walked and talked with Him. We have to be careful, but common sense must come into play as well, and this means to understand our common sense as to whether or not it has Scriptural warrant. For instance: It is said that angels appeared to the shepherds upon the birth of Jesus Christ. Did this really happen? Why were the Shepherds so close to Bethlehem? Why would they say such a thing if it was not true? What would they have gained by lying? When Matthew, John, Luke, Mark, all wrote about this event would not Mary, or Joseph, the step father of Jesus, not speak up against such lies? When Jesus healed a person, were there not others present who would read what a writer wrote about this and if not true speak up? If not, then why?
This study of Timothy leads us into some very serious problems within the Christian Church. Paul was addressing Timothy and warning him that such evil and wicked things would crop up in the Church, and by those men who seem to have some authority. Is this not the case in our day? Men, those who point to their degrees, their many years of study as their authority, and yet, the only true authority is the Bible. If the Bible does not agree with their words, then they are not to be believed.
We begin in the next blog to examine the doctrine of Jesus Christ (Christology) to find the truth from and by Scripture. Prayer, study, meditation, must precede any study, but most important about this study for if we have a wrong doctrine of Jesus Christ, we have a Christianity that is not Christian.
The Lord God which gathereth
the outcasts of Israel saith:
"Yet will I gather others to him
besides those that are gathered
unto him.
Isaiah 56:8
Jesus Christ Is God: Your hope
Richard L. Crumb
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