I was at a conference the last couple of days where Derek Thomas and Kevin DeYoung spoke about the authority of scripture.  One of the main passages Dr. Thomas developed was 2 Timothy 3.14 – 4.5.  I realized I had made a mistake in my post of June 5 – I had called the exhortation to Timothy at the beginning of chapter 4 a WARNING. It is really a COMMISSION to Timothy to preach the word, with a warning imbedded in the commission.  In either case, “itchy ears” used in the ESV translation is a wonderfully descriptive phrase.

I was struck also at the conference with a “fear of the Lord” understanding of two things.  First, God is the potter and we are the clay.  God made us and the universe the way He wanted to.  The omnipotent , all-powerful One COULD have done anything he wanted (except violate His own character) and THIS is what He decided to do.  The creation is to glorify God, not satisfy my design specs. It is major impertinence to think I would know better how to set up the universe.

Second, God tells us the truth about Himself in the Bible, where we can read exactly what He wants us to know in exactly the way He wants to, at exactly the right time for us to know it.  Again, it is major impertinence to think that the arms of the Almighty are shortened when it comes to directing human writers, keeping Biblical content intact for centuries, and enlightening the hearts and minds of believers.

Unfortunately there are many heretics today – just like there have always been heretics –  who claim to be believers in Jesus Christ but make mistakes or adjust the meaning to suit their own ends.  When nice-sounding arguments assail the truth, how can we possible know the difference? The COMMISSION that Paul gives Timothy points the way:

–        “Continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed.” History is full of prior heresies and the arguments used to disapprove them.  God and His Biblical truth have not changed just because man’s cultures have.

–        “All Scripture (Old and New Testament) is breathed out by God.” The Bereans were commended for testing Paul’s teachings against scripture (Acts 17.10-12).  God said what he meant to say.

–        “Many people will not endure sound teaching and will accumulate teachers to suit their own passions.” The Holy Spirit works to give sight to the blind, to those who repent and believe.  Even though the Evil One works to deceive, He who is with us is greater than he who is in the world. 

There are good sound teachers who can explain the truth and refute the lies.  I was happy to hear from a couple of them over the last two days.