Lessons From The Pastoral Epistles
These classes were given at the Christadelphian Bible Conference in St. John's, Newfoundland, July 1-7, 2017.
Classes
Class 1: Class 1 - God who is the Savior of all men
The class explores the title 'God the Saviour' in 1 Timothy, emphasizing God's desire for all to be saved but conditional on their response to the truth. It highlights the importance of faith and righteousness in salvation, drawing parallels with Christ's mission and Paul's role as a spiritual father to Timothy and Titus.
Class 2: Class 2 - My Son after the Common Faith
The class discusses the roles and responsibilities of Timothy and Titus as spiritual sons of Paul, emphasizing their ecclesial leadership and the trust Paul placed in them to carry on his work. It highlights their distinct personalities and the importance of living consistent lives as examples to the ecclesia.
Class 3: Class 3 - A faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation
The class explores the concept of 'faithful sayings' in the pastoral epistles, focusing on their significance and the themes they convey, such as salvation through faith and the importance of perseverance in the face of trials.
Class 4: Class 4 -The doctrine which is according to Godliness
The class focuses on the concept of godliness as taught in 1 Timothy, emphasizing the importance of living a life centered on God and contentment with what one has. It highlights the doctrine of godliness as a key theme in Paul's pastoral epistles, stressing the need to avoid excesses of materialism and focus on God's purpose.
Class 5: Class 5 - I am now ready to be offered
The class covers Paul's final letter to Timothy, emphasizing Paul's acceptance of his impending death and his continued commitment to the truth. It highlights Paul's loneliness and his sending of Timothy to join him, underscoring the importance of faith, perseverance, and discipleship.
Class 6: Exhortation - The Parable of the Persistent Widow
The class discusses the Parable of the Persistent Widow from Luke 18:1-8, emphasizing the importance of continual and persistent prayer despite apparent delays in answers. It highlights the widow's determination and draws parallels to the faithful's perseverance in prayer until Christ's return.
Class 7: Public Lecture - Britiain in the Persian Gulf - Sign of Christ's Coming
The class explores Solomon's reign as a foreshadowing of Christ's future kingdom, focusing on his alliances with Tyre and Sheba. It draws parallels between Solomon's maritime and trade alliances and Britain's historical presence in the Persian Gulf, suggesting these events are signs of Christ's imminent return.